Facts to Know about Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. To date, researchers and healthcare professionals have not come to a single conclusion about the exact cause. The soft palate is the most affected region of obstruction for individuals having obstructive sleep apnea. It occurs as a result of muscle relaxation to a certain degree when the air passage gets fully collapsed and turns out to be obstructed.

The Cycle of Sleeping Disruption

Since the air passage collapsed, breathing ceases and the individual wakes up as a result of an obstructed air passage. This waking up lasts for few seconds and then the individual sleeps again. This persistent disruption averts the individual from reaching the deep sleep level, that is, Rapid Eye Movement (REM) level sleep, which our body desperately needs in order to become rejuvenated and to fight off different adverse psychological and physical health conditions.

Potential Risk Factors

Needless to say, obesity and being overweight, take many tolls on people’s lives. Obstructive sleep apnea is no exception and the most essential cause is being overweight or obese. It occurs because excessive buildup of fat on both sides of the air passage makes it narrow, especially when the muscles release. Another important risk factor of obstructive sleep apnea is age. It is mainly due to the fact that aging contributes to a decrease of muscle mass.

Signs, Symptoms and Complications

The major signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea stem from disturbance in the normal sleep pattern. The recurrent arousal and inability to reach deep sleep, may lead to daytime sleepiness, irritation, anxiety, changes in personality and behavior, memory impairment, depression and many other problems. It also contributes to drowsy drive syndrome, which results in an increasing risk of automobile accidents. Lack of oxygen supply puts serious threat over the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of congestive heart failure and stroke.

Available Treatment Methods

There is a wide variety of treatment methods available to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The first includes weight reduction. It can be followed by positive pressure therapy, positional therapy, surgical interventions and using oral appliances. The positive pressure therapy has three components, namely, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) and auto titration. Positional therapy is based on the assumption that specific positioning may free the patient from snoring or shortness of breath.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a critical sleeping disorder characterized by a recurrent breathing cessation or significant breathing reduction. There are generally three types of sleep apnea – obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea.

Characteristics

If an individual is suffering from apnea of any type, his sleep gets disrupted and sufficient air supply to lungs is getting obstructed, even though the individual tries hard to breathe. This causes a significant reduction in the blood oxygen level. The normal breathing pattern initiates with a loud snort or choking sound.

Signs and Symptoms

Since the normal sleeping pattern is getting disrupted throughout the night, it means that the individual is unable to reach the deep level of sleep, which we all badly need for restoring our bodily functions. This leads to exhaustion and daytime sleepiness throughout the day. This poor quality of sleep may also lead to drowsy driver syndrome, increasing the risk of road accidents.

Additionally, the lack of oxygen supply puts a serious threat over the cardiovascular system. The lungs try hard to deliver oxygen in sufficient amounts to all of the bodily organs and areas, but there is a marked reduction in the blood oxygen level. This strain causes hypertension and eventually increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

People at Risk

The fact is apnea may occur to anyone living on the face of earth. Studies reveal over 12 million Americans are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Individuals more susceptible to apnea are those that are overweight or obese, have high blood pressure, or decreased air passage size in noses, mouth and throats.

Additionally, family history is also believed to be an influential factor. African Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics are at higher risk for sleep apnea than Caucasians. Men are more vulnerable towards sleep apnea than same aged women. Sleep apnea may also occur in children. If you find your child is snoring, make an appointment and see your doctor, to allow them to make a correct diagnosis. Don’t evaluate the situation yourself.

Treatments

The aim of the treatment includes restoration of normal nighttime breathing and relief from the different symptoms of sleep apnea like snoring, daytime sleepiness, etc. In addition, treatment methods also focus on alleviating other related health conditions such as high blood pressure and obesity so that the risk of heart attack and stroke can be possibly minimized.

The most common treatment method includes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Under this treatment intervention, people are asked to wear a specific mask over the nose at the time they are sleeping. This mask helps the individuals to blow the air sufficiently at an appropriate pressure level. Additionally, positioning therapy is also administered.

If you believe you know someone with sleep apnea, encourage them to see a professional as it should not be taken lightly. It is a serious medical condition.

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