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, statistics show that there are more male patients in this category than there are females. One in every ten women are afflicted with the disorder, while as many as one in four males suffer from the condition. Scientists have not yet determined why this is the case. The condition is especially common in obese persons, and does not typically manifest until one is over the age of forty.
Symptoms are often noticed by family members before the patient himself or herself discovers that a problem exists. For example, one of the most commonly experienced side effects is excessive snoring. Couples sometimes report that the partner who has the disorder frequently jolts awake at regular intervals during the night, even though the patient does not realize he or she is doing so.
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 some instances, the soft palate can be trimmed or other procedures can be completed to decrease the individual's symptoms. Whether or not these procedures are an option will depend on the person's overall health and the type of the condition from which he or she suffers. Simpler treatments include sleeping in a position that promotes good breathing and losing excess weight.
Heart arrhythmias and lack of oxygen to vital organs are 2 detrimental side effects associated with this sleeping disorder. Therefore, it is wise for patients to pursue help at sleep apnea centers where experts can evaluate their situation. Those who suspect they have the aforementioned condition should schedule a consultation with a medical doctor 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, statistics show that there are more male patients in this category than there are females. One in every ten women are afflicted with the disorder, while as many as one in four males suffer from the condition. Scientists have not yet determined why this is the case. The condition is especially common in obese persons, and does not typically manifest until one is over the age of forty.
Symptoms are often noticed by family members before the patient himself or herself discovers that a problem exists. For example, one of the most commonly experienced side effects is excessive snoring. Couples sometimes report that the partner who has the disorder frequently jolts awake at regular intervals during the night, even though the patient does not realize he or she is doing so.
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 some instances, the soft palate can be trimmed or other procedures can be completed to decrease the individual's symptoms. Whether or not these procedures are an option will depend on the person's overall health and the type of the condition from which he or she suffers. Simpler treatments include sleeping in a position that promotes good breathing and losing excess weight.
Heart arrhythmias and lack of oxygen to vital organs are 2 detrimental side effects associated with this sleeping disorder. Therefore, it is wise for patients to pursue help at sleep apnea centers where experts can evaluate their situation. Those who suspect they have the aforementioned condition should schedule a consultation with a medical doctor as soon as possible.
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