How To Prevent Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Sleep apnea doesn’t have to control your life. In fact, there are steps that you can take today in order to prevent sleep apnea from invading your night’s and ruining your days.

In order to prevent sleep apnea, you must first understand the disorder and what causes it. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes the sufferer to stop breathing on multiple occasions throughout the night. When this happens, the muscles and tissue in the throat are relaxing and causing a block in the airway. The results, which are often symptoms, including heavy snoring, pauses in breathing and waking up short of breath or, in extreme cases, even gasping for air. At first, the sufferer may not realize what happened, but soon will begin to realize a pattern and feelings of fatigue, irritability and lack of concentration during the day. If left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to heart problems, a greater likelihood of a stroke or other serious medical condition.

While all of these things sound very intimidating, the good news is that there are ways to prevent sleep apnea and even control it if already present. Among the ways to prevent sleep apnea are to sleep on your side instead of your back, lose weight if you are overweight or have been diagnosed with obesity, elevate your head using two standard pillows instead of just one, give up cigarettes and alcohol, rid your home of allergens, etc. These are the simplest ways to prevent sleep apnea but, if these prove unsuccessful, a more aggressive approach may be required.

After all treatment methods have been exhausted, including the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, a physician may recommend surgery. Before electing for this treatment, however, the patient needs to understand all of the risks associated with any surgical procedure. Many people find success with the CPAP device because it provides pressurized air to prevent the collapse of the throat muscle and tissue during the night. The patient must sleep with their mouth closed to avoid losing the effects of the CPAP. Many users find additional comfort with a product known as the Sleep Genie, which is designed to support the jaw while keeping the mouth closed during sleep. While not intended to prevent sleep apnea, or cure it, the Sleep Genie often provides better quality sleep for sufferers.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

If you have noticed a pattern of heavy snoring, shortness of breath or a choking sensation during the night, then you may have sleep apnea. Most people thing that snoring is just snoring, but it can actually be a warning sign of something much more serious. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that could lead to heart problems, an increased likelihood of having a stroke or other ailment. If not treated properly, the sufferer could clearly face serious health problems.

In order to properly diagnose sleep apnea, a physician will ask a series of questions and possibly order a sleep study. This is what happens when a potential sleep apnea victim visit’s a sleep center for one night. During that night, they are hooked up to various monitoring devices, which keeps a close watch on their sleeping patterns, breathing and snoring. The physician carefully reviews the results and either makes a positive diagnosis for sleep apnea or informs the patient that he/she tested negative for the disorder.

It is very important that sleep apnea be diagnosed as early as possible. A spouse may be your best source of information for early warning signs, such as heavy snoring, pauses in breathing, etc. The next step will be patient awareness, which may entail the patient realizing that he/she is exhausted during the day, unable to concentrate on normal activities and may have personality changes. These are due to lack of sleep, which is what happens when a sleep apnea sufferer suddenly awakens with difficulty breathing. A sleep apnea sufferer will completely stop breathing on more than one occasion throughout the night, which may cause them to wake up frequently. Even if the do not recall what happened, they are not receiving a quality night’s sleep.

Additional warning signs, but not necessarily symptoms, include being overweight or obese, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, allergies, constantly sleeping on the back, etc. These may be a few of the factors that lead up to sleep apnea and, as a result, often have a hand in it’s prevention. By losing weight, giving up cigarettes and alcohol, ridding the home of allergens and sleeping on the side, sleep apnea may soon be a thing of the past.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Do I Have Sleep Apnea?

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Sleep apnea can be very tricky to diagnose. If you sleep alone, or if you and your sleep partner are not aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea, you may not even realize you are waking (though just slightly) as many as hundreds of times per night, gasping for air and causing undue strain on your hard-working heart. The condition can go on undetected for some time until it becomes life-threatening.

For most individuals, their sleep partner is the first to notice something is not right. While snoring is a frequent nighttime occurrence, especially among overweight males, the gasping, choking and gurgling sounds that occur as your body is repeatedly deprived of oxygen can be disconcerting.

My husband had been disturbing his sleep and mine with his snoring for about a year. One night, I awoke to hear him stop breathing completely and, within a few seconds, he began snoring again. I thought it was odd, but soon went back to sleep and didn’t give it another thought. However, as the nights went on, I heard him stop breathing more often and for longer periods of time. I would try to wake him up, but most times he rolled into a different position, stopped snoring for a few minutes, and then started up all over again. In the morning, he rarely remembered me waking him up over and over. But he was very fatigued during the day, began to gain weight, felt generally unwell, and lost his usual charm and zest for life.

One day, I read about sleep apnea, and I knew that was the problem immediately. After an evaluation at a sleep clinic, my husband was fitted with a CPAP machine. It was dreadful to sleep with and he soon abandoned it. A few months later, during a routine physical, our family doctor noticed he had a smaller than normal airway and sent him to a specialist. That visited resulted in a surgery called ‘Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty’ (UPPP) and, for my husband, it was a lifesaver.

Some sleep apnea signs and symptoms include:

• Stopping breathing frequently during sleep.

• Choking or gasping for air while sleeping

• Unusually loud snoring

• Frequent wakening to gasp for air

• Night sweats

• Daytime fatigue

• Morning dry mouth, headaches and sore throat

It’s important to know that snoring is not the same as sleep apnea. Snoring is a loud vibration from the throat that is not necessarily harmful. Individuals with sleep apnea, however, are deprived of oxygen, and suffer major health issues. If you find it confusing, just remember that if you have sleep apnea you will snore, but if you do snore, it does not necessarily mean you are suffering from sleep apnea.

How To Cure Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

If you are reading this, then you obviously want to know how to cure sleep apnea. You are not alone. Many sufferers around the world are just like you. They are exhausted from lack of sleep, irritable during the day to their friends and loved ones and commonly find themselves unable to concentrate on everyday activities that previously went without notice. But, the good news is that you no longer have to miss sleep and take off from work because you are too exhausted. There are ways that you can cure sleep apnea and, best of all, you can start tonight.

Do you sleep on your back every night? If so, it is time to try something new. When you go to bed tonight, immediately turn over on your side and try to fall asleep. Researchers believe that individuals who sleep on their back are more susceptible to sleep apnea because it is easier for their airways to be blocked by the muscles and tissue in their throat. If you sleep with one standard pillow, try using two. By elevating your head even a few inches, you may help to lessen your chances of having airway blockage.

One of the most effective ways to cure sleep apnea is through weight loss. Obesity is one of the leading causes of sleep apnea and, therefore, is a large part of it’s cure. By beginning a well-balanced program consisting of diet and exercise, you will not only be helping to cure sleep apnea, but also taking a big step toward warding off future illnesses associated with obesity.

It is important to remember that only a physician can properly diagnose sleep apnea. This is confirmed through a series of questions and possibly a sleep study, which is when the patient spends the night at a sleep center where there breathing patterns are monitored. After every possible attempt to cure sleep apnea has proven unsuccessful, a physician may recommend surgery. Before electing for surgery, the patient should be aware of all risks associated with the procedure. At the same time, it is very important to cure sleep apnea or suffer the increased risks of heart disease, stroke and other serious illnesses. Many physicians will recommend use of a device called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, which provides continual air pressure for the sufferer throughout the night. Some users of the CPAP machine find additional comfort with the Sleep Genie, which helps the mouth to remain closed and prevents the escape of the CPAP air treatments. While not intended as a cure for sleep apnea, the Sleep Genie often provides for better quality sleep to sufferers.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

How To Select The Best Sleep Apnea Treatment

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

With so many choices, it may seem very difficult to select a sleep apnea treatment that actually works. Any individual who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea is in need of a prompt remedy. If this condition is ignored, it may lead to heart disease, a stroke or other serious medical problem.

In order to select the best sleep apnea treatment, you must consider whether or not the procedure is safe. What type of product warning does it have? If you are looking for an anti-snoring device, you should look for one that has been medically tested and doctor recommended. One such product is, for instance, called the Sleep Genie. While supporting the jaw, it helps the mouth to remain closed using a comfortable nylon lycra blend. It is important to understand that the Sleep Genie is not intended to be a cure for sleep apnea, but rather a product that can work to improve sleep quality. In addition, apnea sufferers who use the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine may benefit from the added use of the Sleep Genie, which helps to keep the mouth closed. Users of the CPAP machine need to sleep with their mouth closed in order to keep the air, provided by the machine, from escaping during sleep.

Other natural sleep apnea treatment methods include the removal of household allergens with the help of air filtration devices, sleeping on your side instead of your back, giving up cigarettes and/or alcohol and paying close attention to your diet. Obesity is one of the leading causes of snoring, which is a direct sign of sleep apnea. Therefore, if you are overweight or have been diagnosed as being obese, it may be time to consider a medically supervised diet and exercise program. In addition to being a good sleep apnea treatment, losing weight will help to improve your overall health.

It is important to realize the difference between sleep apnea and just plain snoring. Snoring is random and does not cause additional problems, other than sleep disruption, for the sufferer. Sleep apnea, however, is diagnosed when the sufferer snores heavily and stops breathing completely on more than one occasion during the night. Because the latter is of major concern to physicians, it should be treated with an effective sleep apnea treatment as quickly as possible. Sufferers who are looking for a good sleep apnea treatment should select one that works quickly in order to get instant results and relief.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms & Solutions

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Apnea, in terms of the Greek word, is defined as “without breath.” This is exactly what happens to individuals who suffer from sleep apnea, which is a serious medical condition that causes the sufferer to completely stop breathing on more than one occasion throughout the night.

While it may be difficult to realize the symptoms of sleep apnea because they occur during sleep, it is possible if you know what to watch for. For instance, you may notice uncommon exhaustion throughout the day, a general feeling of fatigue, frequent or long-lasting headaches or irritability. These symptoms occur due to lack of sleep, which is caused by sleep apnea. In addition, if your spouse notices intense snoring or long pauses between breaths at night, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

The only person who can positively identify sleep apnea is a licensed physician. He or she may ask a series of question or, in some instances, recommend a sleep study by asking you to spend the night in a supervised sleep center. At this type of facility, the purpose is to determine whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea. A series of monitoring devices will be placed on your body in order to detect your breathing patterns throughout the night.

Sleep apnea, when left untreated, can be extremely dangerous. In fact, it can lead to heart disease, a stroke or other major health problems. In addition to the obvious health risks, sleep apnea may lessen your immune system’s ability to fight disease or the loss of sleep can cause you to be impaired when driving. Sleep apnea treatments may include sleeping on your side instead of your back, giving up alcohol and cigarettes, ridding your home of allergens, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program or the use of a doctor recommended at-home apnea treatment.

A product known as the Sleep Genie, which is a doctor recommended anti-snoring device, is available to help provide comfort to those with sleep apnea. Manufactured of a comfortable nylon lycra blend, the Sleep Genie comfortably supports the jaw while keeping the mouth closed to prevent snoring. While the Sleep Genie is not intended as a cure for sleep apnea, many users find additional comfort when using this product with the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which provides continuous air pressure to help prevent the collapse of tissue in the throat that often blocks air passages during sleep. Users of the CPAP machine need to sleep with their mouth closed in order to prevent the air from escaping, which is where the Sleep Genie often proves beneficial.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Sleep Apnea Remedies

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Sufferers around the globe will be happy to hear that there are sleep apnea remedies that will enable you to regain control over your life. And, it is thanks to these sleep apnea remedies that you will never have to lose another night’s sleep.

One of the first sleep apnea remedies to try would include simple steps that you can take, on your own, to help treat the disorder. If you sleep on your back regularly, stop now. Try sleeping on your side instead. This may help to prevent your airways from being blocked, which is what tends to happen when apnea sufferers sleep on their back. If you suffer from allergies, rid your home of any/all allergens, including pet hair, cigarette smoke and dust. Regular cleaning and the use of air filtration units in each room will go a long way in helping you to breathe cleaner air.

Obesity is a major concern that often leads to sleep apnea. Therefore, one of the best sleep apnea remedies is to simply begin a healthy, well-balanced program consisting of diet and exercise. If you are overweight, or have recently been diagnosed with obesity, losing weight will help to curb sleep apnea as well as possibly prevent other health problems in the future. While you are altering your lifestyle, it is time to give up alcohol and cigarettes if either of these are present because both may lead to sleep apnea.

After all natural sleep apnea remedies have been exhausted, a physician may recommend the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. This machine provides the apnea sufferer with a continual amount of pressurized air, which will prevent the muscles and tissue in the throat from collapsing during sleep. With sleep apnea, the sufferer actually stops breathing through the night due to this collapse, which is why the use of this machine is often a very vital treatment among the sleep apnea remedies.

The Sleep Genie, which is a doctor approved anti-snoring device, comfortably supports the jaw while helping to keep the mouth closed during sleep. While not intended to cure sleep apnea, the Sleep Genie often helps users to have a better quality sleep. Users of the CPAP machine need to sleep with their mouth closed in order to prevent the benefits of the machine from escaping through the night. Some users of the CPAP machine have found a good companion in the Sleep Genie, which will secure their closed mouth during the night.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Apnea, in terms of the Greek word, is defined as “without breath.” This is exactly what happens to individuals who suffer from sleep apnea, which is a serious medical condition that causes the sufferer to completely stop breathing on more than one occasion throughout the night.
While it may be difficult to realize the symptoms of sleep apnea because they occur during sleep, it is possible if you know what to watch for. For instance, you may notice uncommon exhaustion throughout the day, a general feeling of fatigue, frequent or long-lasting headaches or irritability. These symptoms occur due to lack of sleep, which is caused by sleep apnea. In addition, if your spouse notices intense snoring or long pauses between breaths at night, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.
The only person who can positively identify sleep apnea is a licensed physician. He or she may ask a series of question or, in some instances, recommend a sleep study by asking you to spend the night in a supervised sleep center. At this type of facility, the purpose is to determine whether or not you suffer from sleep apnea. A series of monitoring devices will be placed on your body in order to detect your breathing patterns throughout the night.
Sleep apnea, when left untreated, can be extremely dangerous. In fact, it can lead to heart disease, a stroke or other major health problems. In addition to the obvious health risks, sleep apnea may lessen your immune system’s ability to fight disease or the loss of sleep can cause you to be impaired when driving. Sleep apnea treatments may include sleeping on your side instead of your back, giving up alcohol and cigarettes, ridding your home of allergens, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program or the use of a doctor recommended at-home apnea treatment.
A product known as the Sleep Genie, which is a doctor recommended anti-snoring device, is available to help provide comfort to those with sleep apnea. Manufactured of a comfortable nylon lycra blend, the Sleep Genie comfortably supports the jaw while keeping the mouth closed to prevent snoring. While the Sleep Genie is not intended as a cure for sleep apnea, many users find additional comfort when using this product with the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which provides continuous air pressure to help prevent the collapse of tissue in the throat that often blocks air passages during sleep. Users of the CPAP machine need to sleep with their mouth closed in order to prevent the air from escaping, which is where the Sleep Genie often proves beneficial.
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 12 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by a reduction or cessation of breathing and air flow during sleep. It is common among adults but very rare in children. An apnea is a period of time during which breathing stops or is significantly reduced. Simply put, an apnea occurs when a person stops breathing for ten seconds or more. Apneas usually occur during sleep. When an apnea occurs, sleep is disrupted. Sometimes this means the person wakes up completely, but sometimes this can mean the person comes out of a deep level of sleep. Apneas are usually measured during sleep over a two-hour period.

Three Types of Sleep Apnea

The three types of sleep apneas are central sleep apnea (CSA), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and mixed sleep apnea (a combination of the two).

During sleep, the brain instructs the muscles of breathing to take a breath. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not send the signal to the muscle to take a breath, and there is no muscular effort to take a breath. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the brain sends the signal to the muscles and the muscles make an effort to take a breath but are unsuccessful because the airway becomes obstructed and prevents the flow of air. The third type of sleep apnea, mixed sleep apnea, occurs when there is both central and obstructive sleep apnea.

CSA and its Causes

CSA occurs when the brain does not send the signal to the muscles of breathing. This type of apnea usually occurs in infants or adults with heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or congenital diseases, but CSA can also be caused by some medications and high altitudes.

CSA, when occurring in premature infants, is defined as apnea lasting more than 20 seconds, usually with a change in heart rate, a reduction in blood oxygen, or hypotonia (a general relaxation of the body’s muscles). CSA is not the same thing as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

OSA

People with obstructive sleep apnea have an airway that is more narrow than normal, usually at the base of the tongue and palate. When lying flat, the palate is above the air passage. When the pharyngeal muscles relax, the palate can fall backwards obstructing the airway. Patients with OSA often do not report waking up during the night.OSA can cause the following medical problems (just to name a few):

· High blood pressure

· Heart problems

· Weight gain

· Constant tiredness

· Diabetes

· Slow metabolism

· Memory/concentration problems

· Depression

· Anxiety

· Sore throat

· Dry mouth