Most people do not think much about being unable to sleep. They think that the condition is temporary or unimportant as insomnia is a fairly common problem with many people. This could be true for some, since our modern, stressful lifestyle does affect sleep patterns.
Some would simply get a prescription for over the counter sleeping pills and not think any more about it. There is a need to educate people that sleeping pills is not a good solution as you will be immune to the effects of pills and your problem may become even worse.
So why is it important to ensure that your sleep problems are not something that could be symptoms of bigger health issues?
You could be suffering from sleep apnea if you feel tired through the day even after your regular night’s sleep and snore very loudly during sleep cycles. If your breathing stops for a period of time, in some cases up to a minute, you may be suffering from sleep disorder especially if this occurs several times during sleep. So how to sleep better?
Sleep medication, sleep devices and even surgeries are among the possible sleep aid solutions. Besides these, there are further steps you can take to help cure sleep apnea such as changing personal habits.
An addictive substance such as nicotine does little good for your body and should be avoided. Therefore, you should drop the smoking habit as well as stay away from substances that cause you to feel drowsy, such as alcohol and medicines as these will cause your airways to close by interfering with your sleep cycles.
If you are overweight, go on a sensible diet and exercise regime that not only helps keep your body in shape and increase self confidence, your health improves and reduces symptoms of sleep apnea. A way to keep your airway open during sleep cycles is by sleeping on your side.
Devices such as masks that use air pressure to keep airways open during sleep are helpful. Some other dental sleep apnea devices on the market are CPAP machines that work preventing your airway from being blocked by your tongue falling back into the throat. Mis-aligned teeth and saliva build up are some uncomfortable side effects from using these devices. Some anti-snoring devices also cause users to have headaches, dry mouth and dry nose.
You can also consider undergoing surgery to help with your sleep apnea disorder. In order to make the best informed decision, you should consult your doctor. Extra flesh from the uvula which is found at the back of your throat is removed and the pharynx and the soft palate are made tighter in the surgery. To help cure sleep apnea by improving sleep cycles, other nasal surgeries are available for consideration.
As you can see, the seemingly simply problem of not getting a good night’s rest can culminate to some rather serious health issues. Often, the problem is much more easily treated and resolved in the early stages rather than waiting for the condition to deteriorate into something that is much harder to treat.
Sleep apnea is a condition that prevents the sleeper from breathing properly which in turn wakens the sleeper, and can become a bad enough condition that it can lead to heart disease and many other serious ailments. It can even become life threatening if allowed to reach critical stages. There are various sleep apnea remedies available depending your situation. Consult with your doctor before embarking on any treatment.It is generally accepted that there are two distinct types of sleep apnea. Central apnea is caused by a lack of body messages to the brain to stimulate regular breathing while asleep. Additionally, there is Obstructive Sleep Apnea that is characterized as having a physical reason for breath blockage during sleep. This would, of course, happen despite the concentrated exertion of the sleeper to breathe. Regardless of which type of sleep apnea you have, listed are some of the following methods that may work. Since this a condition that can be potentially life threatening, do not start any treatment without the advise from your doctor. Because your blockage may be caused by excess tissue in your mouth and palate attributable to being obese, you may try to lose weight. This can only help your general well being.Smoking and drinking alcohol may also prevent you from controlling the soft tissues in your throat, thus you might try to eliminate those habits.If you suffer from apnea only when sleeping on your back, a tennis ball sewn into the back of your pajamas may prevent that and encourage you to sleep on your side. This is an old school remedy.Some people find that it helps to raise the bed a few inches. Sleep apnea pillows (wedge pillows) are very popular and have been know to lessen the problem .Sleeping pills or over-the-counter sleep aids been known to cause relaxation of the throat and help with sleep apnea. Your doctor may suggest a sleep mask to be worn in conjunction with an air-producing device called a C-PAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine or a BiPAP (Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure) machine that actually allows you to breathe out without the continuous air pressure that a C-PAP produces. Either one of these machines will keep the passageway unobstructed via air pressure to enable you to breathe properly and no longer have to struggle for breath. Some people swear by oral prosthetics that keep the airway open, and others swear by strange operations entailing scarring of their palate, insertion of polyester substances into the palate, or even having radio frequencies introduced into their palates.There is also surgery available for some, which entails removing the uvula, tonsils or the adenoids in an effort to clear or widen the airway.Finally, a more dramatic solution for sleep apnea is Maxillomandibular Osteotomy or Advancement (MMO or MMA), procedures which entail detachment of both the upper and lower jaw, adjusting their placement and finally using pins and plates to solidify the new placement. Great care needs to be taken when using sleep apnea remedies. Discuss any remedy with your doctor to understand the ramifications of any treatment.
Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea? Your doctor could prescribe one of two types of sleep apnea machines for your sleeping disorder, a CPAP or BiPap machine. Which one do you believe is the best? The CPAP has been a lifesaver, literally. Keeping airways open so those who have sleep apnea can sleep without the dangers of not breathing.The Differences Between the CPAP and the BiPAPThe CPAP machine is designed to increase the pressure when you inhale to keep the airways in the nose, throat and mouth from closing while you are sleeping. This has been a great help to many people who suffer from sleep apnea and may stop breathing several times a night.On the other hand, the BiPAP machine may help as well. Using the same setup as a CPAP with tubing, masks and a machine, the BiPAP uses a different setting. The CPAP uses one pressure and the BiPAP uses two. These two pressures are called inhalation pressure (IPAP) and the exhalation pressure (EPAP).Where the CPAP works as the person using it inhales, the BiPAP provides more breathing assistance. They have been prescribed for patients who have congestive heart failure and other serious diseases affecting the heart and lungs. People with nerve and muscle problems may also benefit from the BiPAP machine rather than the CPAP machine.The BiPAP is preset with two settings. The pressure when inhaling and exhaling is monitored. When the person sleeping does not breathe for a certain mount of time, the BiPAP increases pressure and forces them to take a breath. There are higher level CPAP machines that do this as well. These machines need a BPM (breathes per minute) setting that is targeted to your particular breathing needs.Both machines are designed to make sure the users breathe a set number of times per minute. One of the main benefits of the BiPAP machine is the pressure is decreased as the person breathes out. This keeps them from having to work as hard at breathing and the person is able to have a more restful sleep.The BiPAP machine is not large or noisy. They are designed to make the least amount of noise possible so you can sleep. The inclusion of a humidifier may be included with the BiPAP making it a higher end machine than the CPAP.The main difference between these two machines will be the needs of the patient. The one that will help each individual with the specific breathing problems they have will be based on doctor’s examinations and recommendations. A sleep test will be conducted to allow the doctor to see exactly what settings are needed on the type of machine required.The CPAP machine will be used for mild sleep apnea. Make no mistake, this can be a dangerous condition. It just depends on the levels of sleep apnea to govern the needed machine. Both machines are quite beneficial and are crucial to keeping sleepers breathing when they have problems.In conclusion, remember, the sleep apnea machines are not designed to be used as ventilators. They do not breathe for you. They merely make sure you take the number of breaths per minute that your doctor believes is right for you. After doing tests to determine what the correct number may be, the doctor will advise you as to which machine he thinks you need.
Millions and millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a stoppage of breathing while sleeping that is characterized by loud gasps, physical struggles, and morning headaches as well as tremendous feelings of fatigue and sleepiness during the day. Though there are many different cures for sleep apnea, most people can find a huge amount of relief through the use of sleep apnea masks. They are called C-PAP masks that stand for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure mask. Do not misunderstand; it is not the mask itself that cures sleep apnea. It is important to note that the mask is linked by a lightweight air hose to a machine which makes continuous air that the sleeper is so direly in need of. How this works is that the machine blows gentle air into the nose or mouth of the person wearing the mask. There is just enough air coming through that it keeps the patient’s throat from falling into a downward position that had previously hampered the facility of the patient to breathe. People look at the masks and immediately assume that there is no way they will ever be able to sleep wearing such a thing. Quite the opposite is true, as most people have said that they’ve never slept so well as they have since acquiring a C-PAP machine. Sleep apnea masks come in a variety of types, headgear, sizes and designs. Some are purely oral-air-delivery masks, some nasal-air-delivery masks and some a combination of both oral and nasal-air-delivery systems. The goal of each mask is to obtain perfect fit, sure delivery of air, all while keeping the person comfortable enough to sleep. Soft silicone gels and seals provide comfort. There are even masks that do not even require headgear. Or you may be introduced to nasal pillows that allow the air to come through solely your nose while using a mask. The machines themselves sometimes come integrated with heated humidifiers, are easy to transport for travel, and have settings chosen by your doctor that are individualized to especially serve your needs. New technology has been applied to the standard C-PAP machine. There is now have a BiPAP machine. BiPAP is the abbreviation for Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure. It actually allows the constant air to be interrupted when the patient breathes out, and that is why it is referred to as Bi-level. This means that you now no longer need to exhale against the constant air pressure. Those who suffer from other breathing problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, find that the Bi-PAP is more than helpful to them. Also, patients who suffer from neuromuscular diseases find it is much easier to use a Bi-PAP than a C-PAP. Those decisions for Bi-PAPs as opposed to C-PAPs are, of course, also made by your doctor or sleep therapist for you. If you suffer from congenital heart disease, you may find that having sleep apnea was the cause of it, or partially the cause. You will perhaps discover that either a C-PAP or sleep apnea masks are just the answer you have sought for many years of restless sleep, night sweats, heart palpitations and feeling as if you do not receive the restful sleep you seek.
For many years the first line of defense for children with sleep apnea and other forms of sleep-disordered breathing has been to remove both their tonsils and adenoids in a procedure known as an adenoidtonsilectomy and follow-up studies normally carried out about six weeks and three months after surgery generally show positive results. However, it has now been suggested that in many cases, if follow-up studies were again conducted one year after surgery, the results would be very different.Initial studies indicate that two groups of children in particular are showing a relapse or worsening of their original condition a year out from an adenoidtonsilectomy and one of these groups is children who have gained weight rapidly during the period. However, some poor outcomes have also been reported in children who do not gain weight rapidly and this is leading to a conclusion that sleep-disordered breathing may in fact be a chronic condition.Data at this point is somewhat limited (the study upon which this conclusion is based involved only 40 children) and certainly more studies will need to be carried out before any firm conclusions can be drawn. Nevertheless, the implication at this stage is that the traditional surgical route for children with sleep apnea perhaps needs to be re-thought.Well, before you start rushing out and looking for alternatives perhaps we should look a little more closely at just what has been found here.In the vast majority of cases the children whose condition worsened a year out from surgery had also gained weight very rapidly during this period of time and, in fact, were described almost in passing as being ‘obese’. So, is the problem perhaps not the result of an ineffective form of treatment but simply of obesity, which we already know is a major contributory factor in cases of sleep-disordered breathing?Obesity is now at epidemic proportions but has only recently started spreading like wildfire through our children and is not only leading to increased cases of sleep apnea, but is also being seen in an increasing number of children with diabetes, heart conditions and various other disorders.We live in an age when we are rightly thankful for advances in medicine but the race to come up with the latest medical breakthrough also often leads to the publication of studies and the expression of opinions without adequate evidence to back up their conclusions. This may well be the case here and so perhaps a cautious approach should be advised until we have more evidence to support some firm conclusions.
People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (experiencing repeated cessation of breathing during sleep) are at greater risk from surgery. For example, it is well known that surgical patients with obstructive sleep apnea often present difficulties with intubation in advance of surgery, run a higher risk of complications during and particularly after surgery, more often require admission to intensive care and frequently stay longer in hospital.The problem however is that in very many cases patients are not known to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea at the time of surgery and indeed it is only when complications arise as a result of their surgery that their condition comes to light and by then of course it is too late. So what can be done?The problem of course is that many people suffer from sleep apnea without even being aware of it and, although hospitals do screen patients for a variety of conditions, surgical patients are not routinely screened for sleep apnea because the only reliable way to diagnose it is using an overnight sleep study, which is far too time consuming and, of course, too expensive.The answer may however lie in a simple new questionnaire devised by a team of Canadian anesthesiologists.The four question form to be completed by surgical patients simply asks whether they snore loudly, they are tired and sleepy during the day, they have every had anybody witness the fact that they stop breathing during sleep and they are being (or have been) treated for high blood pressure. The answers to these questions are then taken together with other routinely collected information such as the patients gender, age and body mass index and an assessment is made about whether or not the patient is likely to pose a risk for surgery.In the case of high risk patients anesthesiologists can then not only select appropriate anesthetic techniques, but they can also ensure that the necessary equipment is to hand in the operating theater to cope with possible complications.Only time will tell how effective this new idea will work but, if the questionnaire proves successful it will certainly save hospitals a lot of time and money and patients a good deal of unnecessary suffering.
Did you know there are approximately 18 million Americans that have sleep apnea? The statistics are staggering if you consider that 1 in 15 people in the U.S. are suffering from this problem every night. Many people suffer from sleep apnea for various reasons. For the person suffering from this disorder, there has to be a solution because this is one problem that can be a killer.Sleep Apnea Machines are one way the person who has this problem can rest a little easier. They are also called CPAP machines for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. This makes it a little more clear. They do exactly what they say they do. They are handy machines with a lot of different features. They have a mask and hose, a Bi-level pressure or C-flex and a data card. Ok, so now you are asking what these are and what do they do. The mask is pretty self explanatory except the one thing it must do is fit properly. If it does not the air can leak out and this is defeating the purpose as well as being an annoyance to someone who is trying to sleep. The main reason the mask may slip is that the person suffering from sleep apnea is supposed to sleep on their side. If you have ever tried sleeping on your side with a mask on your face, you know the pillow can push the mask and make it slip and slide. So you should choose a smaller mask as well as a couple different types. One that sends the air to your mouth and not your nose or one that sends the air to your nose is available. Next is the bi-level pressure or C-Flex. The pressure is either a continual pressure such as the older models had or bi-level. This means the pressure is not as high when you breathe out. Called C-Flex as well this is a feature that if you did not have would make it very hard to breathe out. There is a model that will increase the pressure every so often (usually 5 minute intervals) until the full capacity is reached. There are heated humidifiers that are designed for keeping the airway from becoming too dry. Included as well is a battery pack. They also come with an adapter that you can use to hook to your car battery. A data storage is also available which records the information that it gathers as you are sleeping. The sleep apneas you experience and the amount of sleep you are getting are recorded and stored for a doctor to examine. The data can be stored for up to 9 months if necessary. Using a data card the information can be sent to your doctor or there are ones that you can hook to your personal computer. The method is up to you. The sleep apnea machines come with a choice of AC. It can be used in the U.S. or Europe. The hose that comes with the machine is standard at 6 feet however; you can get longer ones, up to 12 feet. Over 12 feet though and the pressure will not be maintained. If you need a hose longer than 12 feet you will have to use a machine that has increased pressure. Sleep Apnea Machines are very beneficial equipment for those who suffer from this problem. Without these, there could very well be many more people who would succumb to this disease.
People who do not sleep well and awaken from sleep with sore throats and feeling as if they have not slept at all during the night, may be suffering from sleep apnea. Others suffer so much from lack of sleep that they fall asleep at totally inopportune moments such as in meetings, in movies, stage presentations and even while driving! Some of these people are lucky enough to sleep with a concerned partner who tells them that they are holding their breath throughout the night, then gasping for air, only to repeat this stage of “sleep” over and over again. If a person goes to a doctor and describes those symptoms, an overnight sleep apnea study will undoubtedly be ordered. Medically, this sleep apnea study is called a Polysomnogram, or PSG. During a sleep apnea study, you will first be escorted to a bedroom at bedtime. The bedroom will be nicely equipped with a comfortable bed, will be cool enough for you to sleep and will have clean sheets, pillows and covers arranged according to your sleeping preferences. There are various devices that will be hooked up to you during the sleep apnea study. Most people are not even concerned about these, since they are not painful nor are there any needles involved. One of the devices will measure your brain waves. This is called an electroencephalogram (EEG). Another device will measure your eye and chin movements, and this is referred to as an electroculogram (EOG). Both of these machines will be measuring your different stages of sleep, such as when you enter into REM sleep. Also, you will be hooked to an electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG measures your heart rate and the rhythm of your heart. You will have chest bands around your chest in order to measure the breathing movements you may make.Other monitors are used to measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood. There is another device that records any leg movements, and still another, called a nasal airflow sensor that measures the amount of air passing in and out of your nostrils. All of these devices are necessary so that a true picture of your sleep pattern is recorded and can be evaluated. Chances are you are not even aware of the various times you awaken gasping for breath, or when your legs kick out or even when you are holding your breath for incredible lengths of time. All of these devices will record that and much more with the use of computers, recorders and video machines. Occasionally during a test, the monitor will indicate that you are definitely suffering from sleep apnea and a CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine may be introduced. Once your test is over, you will be awakened and will have all of these devices removed. Most of the sensors are held by a tiny amount of glue that has been placed on the small electrodes before being attached to your face and scalp. The glue is extremely easy to remove. You then can shower and dress and go to work or back home. There are one and two night studies depending on the clinic and the results of the test from the first night. So, do not be alarmed if an additional night is required.A sleep apnea study may be inconvenient since your are not sleeping in your own bed, but most clinics make it as comfortable as possible. The test itself is painless and could be the most important night of sleep in your life!
For those who have sleep apnea, a sleep apnea CPAP machine is one solution that will help you feel more at ease about breathing while sleeping. Because sleep apnea can be so severe that a person may die from this disorder, a CPAP machine can give the peace of mind needed to sleep. The main purpose of this machine is to increase the air pressure in your throat to keep your airway from failing.When sleep apnea is diagnosed by a doctor, they normally use the CPAP machine to treat those who have moderate as well as severe sleep apnea. There are three types of sleep apnea.Central Sleep Apnea - This is the type that is caused by a problem with the brain. The way it signals the muscles responsible for keeping us breathing is compromised. This type is usually associated with heart failure, strokes, brain infections and brain tumors.Obstructive Sleep Apnea - This type is caused by the airflow to the throat becoming blocked while you are sleeping. It can also be caused by narrowed airways or being severely overweight can be another reason for this type of sleep apnea.Mixed Sleep Apnea - This occurs as a combination of the two mentioned above. It is normally recognized by very loud snoring. A restless sleep as well as having difficulty breathing is another clue. The sufferer may wake feeling exhausted and may have a headache. This type may be improved by the way you sleep and the CPAP machine has had great results with this as well.A CPAP machine usually is made with either a mask that goes over the mouth and the nose or a mask that only covers the nose. The NCPAP or nose only type is the most common. The machines may also have prongs that fit over the nose. The CPAP machine has had very good results decreasing the sleepiness sufferers of sleep apnea were experiencing. Those with severe as well as moderate sleep apnea have lowered their blood pressure by using the NCPAP machine.People who use the CPAP that suffer from coronary artery disease have fewer heart problems - the main one being heart failure. One of the main things you must remember when using a CPAP is to have regular appointment with your doctor. Often they may need to do additional sleep studies to make sure this is the correct treatment and that it is working satisfactorily. Often the CPAP machine will have to be adjusted.Those who have experienced any side effects from using the CPAP have mostly been moderate. Sometimes air will leak around the mask. This is only because it does not fit properly and once it is adjusted, this will stop. Some people have reported nightmares and more dreams than normal during the beginning of using the machine. This typically goes away. A dry nose, sore throat or a nose bleed can often be relieved by running a humidifier when you are sleeping and using the CPAP. There are other side effects such as headaches but seeing your doctor and advising him of these problems is the best way to take care of them.The benefits of the sleep apnea CPAP seem to far outweigh the problems when you think about the alternative which could ultimately be a heart attack, stroke or even death.
Though it has been known for some time that children who have sleep apnea often produce low scores on IQ tests (typically scoring about 85 against a score of 101 for children without sleep apnea) what we have not known until recently is that this results from chemical changes taking place in the brain. This means that a normally ’smart’ kid might well turn in a run of the mill performance as a result of nothing more than a sleep disorder which can be quite easily treated in the majority of instances.
In a study which was conducted at the Hopkin’s Children’s Centre in Baltimore 31 children between the ages of 6 and 16 (19 of whom suffered from severe sleep apnea) were examined with a form or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and it was found that the children suffering from sleep apnea displayed considerable alterations in both the right frontal cortex and hippocampus - two sections of the human brain which are associated with learning and higher mental function. This same study also discovered that these children had altered levels of three chemicals in the brain that is indicative of brain damage.
This change in the chemistry of the brain brought about by sleep apnea could or could not be permanent and additional studies will be required to see whether or not this affect can be reversed. But, even if this problem can be reversed and the cognitive function and brain chemistry can be normalized, children with sleep apnea are going to continue to have a loss in learning as long as they are suffering from sleep apnea which is left untreated and they will certainly not be able to wind back the clock and recover this learning period.
Naturally parents should already be looking for signs of sleep apnea in their children however this latest study shows that an early diagnosis and treatment of this sleep disorder could have a very large affect on a child’s life.
The indicators of sleep apnea may include frequent pauses in breathing while sleeping which often produce an arousal from sleep and tossing and turning. Children might also show loud or labored breathing, snoring, coughing, gasping and, sometimes, bedwetting at an age when this phase should normally have passed. Parents could additionally notice a child sleeping in an unusual position, possibly with their bottom sticking up in the air and their head slanted backwards in an unwitting attempt to force their airway open.
In nearly all instances childhood sleep apnea can be treated by the surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids or of excess tissue from the back of the throat or nose. In addition, a CPAP (continuous positive airways pressure) machine may also be recommended to provide a child with a flow of air which is delivered through a mask worn while sleeping to maintain an open airway.
Sleep apnea is in itself debilitating for any child and the affects of a lengthy period of restless sleep will take its toll on your child. However, when you combine this with a reduction in a child’s IQ, it is crucial that you act at the earliest possible opportunity to see that this problem is diagnosed and then treated.