The consequences of sleep apnea are potentially serious. The disorder results in a person being unable to sleep without interruption through the night, due to breathing disturbances. Patients suffering from this condition frequently stop breathing multiple times throughout the night. Some people who have participated in clinical trials at sleep apnea centers have discovered that their normal breathing patterns were interrupted more than one-hundred times in an 8 hour period. Fortunately, the disorder can be treated in a variety of ways.
There are two kinds of the disorder, which are referred to as central or obstructive. The latter is the more common, but both have detrimental side effects. The obstructive form of the disorder is characterized by partial or complete blockage in the person's upper airway. Breathing typically resumes with a jerk of one's body or a loud gasping sound. This type of sleep apnea can be the result of various factors, such as obesity, allergies, asthma, a deviated septum, cardiac disease, poor positioning while sleeping, or pulmonary disorders.
Those suffering from the central form of the disorder do not have upper respiratory obstructions. Rather, their brains simply fail to appropriately signal the muscles that control breathing. This results in respiratory tract instability. It is regarded as a central nervous system disorder, even though the reason it occurs has not yet been discovered.
Interestingly, men suffer from this disorder more than women. Statistics show that the condition occurs in one out of every four males, but only occurs in one out of every ten females. It is not yet known why more men are afflicted with the disorder than women. It is particularly common in overweight individuals, and does not usually manifest for the first time until one is over forty years of age.
Symptoms of the disorder are often observed by others who live in the household prior to the patient himself or herself realizing that the condition is present. One of the most common symptoms is loud snoring. Couples frequently state that the partner who is afflicted with the disorder jolts awake several times during the night, even though he or she does not realize this is happening.
There are many devices that can be used by those who suffer from this disorder in order to ensure a good night's sleep. These include BPAP masks and similar devices that help to keep the airway clear and opened when one is asleep. However, it is important to seek medical evaluation before using such equipment to treat the condition.
In certain cases, procedures can be performed to trim the soft palate, and subsequently lessen the patient's symptoms. This largely depends on the type of sleep apnea from which one is suffering, as well as his or her overall health. There are also simple treatments for the disorder, such as losing weight and positioning oneself better prior to falling asleep.
A lack of oxygen to vital organs and heart rhythm irregularities are 2 of the most serious side effects associated with the condition. This is why seeking evaluation at sleep apnea centers is a good idea for many individuals. Those experiencing this problem on a regular basis should seek the advice of a licensed health care professional as soon as possible.
There are two kinds of the disorder, which are referred to as central or obstructive. The latter is the more common, but both have detrimental side effects. The obstructive form of the disorder is characterized by partial or complete blockage in the person's upper airway. Breathing typically resumes with a jerk of one's body or a loud gasping sound. This type of sleep apnea can be the result of various factors, such as obesity, allergies, asthma, a deviated septum, cardiac disease, poor positioning while sleeping, or pulmonary disorders.
Those suffering from the central form of the disorder do not have upper respiratory obstructions. Rather, their brains simply fail to appropriately signal the muscles that control breathing. This results in respiratory tract instability. It is regarded as a central nervous system disorder, even though the reason it occurs has not yet been discovered.
Interestingly, men suffer from this disorder more than women. Statistics show that the condition occurs in one out of every four males, but only occurs in one out of every ten females. It is not yet known why more men are afflicted with the disorder than women. It is particularly common in overweight individuals, and does not usually manifest for the first time until one is over forty years of age.
Symptoms of the disorder are often observed by others who live in the household prior to the patient himself or herself realizing that the condition is present. One of the most common symptoms is loud snoring. Couples frequently state that the partner who is afflicted with the disorder jolts awake several times during the night, even though he or she does not realize this is happening.
There are many devices that can be used by those who suffer from this disorder in order to ensure a good night's sleep. These include BPAP masks and similar devices that help to keep the airway clear and opened when one is asleep. However, it is important to seek medical evaluation before using such equipment to treat the condition.
In certain cases, procedures can be performed to trim the soft palate, and subsequently lessen the patient's symptoms. This largely depends on the type of sleep apnea from which one is suffering, as well as his or her overall health. There are also simple treatments for the disorder, such as losing weight and positioning oneself better prior to falling asleep.
A lack of oxygen to vital organs and heart rhythm irregularities are 2 of the most serious side effects associated with the condition. This is why seeking evaluation at sleep apnea centers is a good idea for many individuals. Those experiencing this problem on a regular basis should seek the advice of a licensed health care professional as soon as possible.
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