Symptoms of Sleep Apnea - A Dangerous Sleep Disorder

Symptoms of sleep apnea are a condition where an individual literally stops breathing throughout sleep and frequently wakes up unaware of what had happened. You will find pauses inside the breathing that may last for a few seconds. The capability to breathe is blocked due to the truth that the muscles within the throat relax too a lot and as such collapse into the airway. The body will then send a signal to the brain that breathing has been blocked. This will then prompt the body to wake up and breathe again. This can be life threatening and at times fatal.

There are two kinds of sleep apnea - Central and Obstructive, prevalent amongst morbidly overweight people. They carry excess weight on their chest which weighs them down, crushing the rib cage and lungs. They often need to wear oxygen masks to support them breathe.

Individuals most at risk are obese middle aged males. For some reason the physiology of women doesn't make them possible sufferers of sleep apnea. If this condition is left untreated it might be life threatening. Folks with symptoms of sleep apnea are tired most of the night and who can blame them when they can have as many as fifty of these interruptions a night.

An additional danger that this sleep deprivation disorder causes is danger to the heart. The heart wants totally free circulation of oxygen to do its job and with constant and prolonged deprivation of oxygen as seen in Obstructive sleep apnea, the heart doesn't work efficiently. Congestive heart failure can occur if this condition is left untreated.

Other non-specific symptoms include headaches, irritability, moodiness, difficulty concentrating, increased urination at night, decreased sexual drive, increased heart rate, anxiety, depression, esophageal reflux (acid reflux disease) and profuse sweating at night.

Other groups of individuals at risk of developing symptoms of sleep apnea are those born with Down's syndrome, a genetic disorder. About 50% of people with this genetic disorder will develop obstruction in their breathing pattern since they've enlarged heads, adenoids, tonsils, tongue and narrowing of the nasopharynx.

You can find distinct treatments for folks with sleep apnea and doctors and ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialists take the following into consideration for designing a treatment plan for those that are diagnosed with this condition..
The factors which are considered are an individual's medical history, severity of the disorder, as well as the particular trigger for the obstruction. Some treatments also incorporate a lifestyle change, avoiding alcohol and medications that will relax the nervous system.

Other lifestyle changes consist of losing weight and quitting smoking. It helps to elevate the head although sleeping so that they can breathe utilizing slanted pillows. The weight problem is the biggest lifestyle concern since that causes some men and women to be confined to beds where they can't move and be active, contributing further into a person's weight gain.

Normally if an individual is obese and they manage to lose a substantial amount of weight that will dramatically enhance their condition. Several healthy lifestyle changes like healthy eating habits, exercise to maintain a healthy weight and improve breathing can go a lengthy way.


Tabitha Lewis has a background in the health sciences and interested in helping people with sleep disorder and weight issues. The two issues are connected and many sleep deprivation causes can be solved by watching your diet and nutrition. To find more information about how to sleep better at night, visit: http://www.sleepingInToday.com