Sleep Apnea: What Is It and Can I Get Treatment

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep dysfunction characterized by interrupted breathing as you sleep.

Types of sleep apnea

They include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea- it happens when your throat muscles slacken and result in narrowing the air pathway. If your oxygen level in the blood reduces, your brain briefly wakes you up to reopen the path. It is marked by a snort or gasp five to 30 time an hour. It is the most common kind.
• Central sleep apnea- occurs when the brain doesn’t transmit accurate information to the muscles that control breathing. This causes shortness of breath when you wake up or insomnia.
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome is when an individual has both obstructive and central sleep apnea. It is also called treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

How Can I Tell I Have Sleep Apnea?

Some signs that can signify sleep apnea include:

• Snoring loudly
• Fatigue after a full night of sleep
• Reports of points when you ceased breathing by other people
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Dry mouth in the morning
• Lack of sleep(insomnia)
• Irritability
• Hypersomnia, extreme feeling of sleep during the day
• Impaired ability to pay attention when awake

Consult your primary physician if you notice any of these symptoms. Effective treatment will reduce the uneasiness and prevent other critical conditions such as heart problems.

What Are The Risk Factors?

Sleep apnea generally affects every population. Some individuals, however, have conditions that increase their susceptibility. They include:

Obstructive sleep apnea

• Obesity- fat deposits around your airways can block breathing
• Being male
• Smoking- increases the swelling and fluid retention of the upper airway
• Nasal congestion
• Medical conditions like diabetes type 2 and hormonal imbalances
• Older adults
• Family history of sleep apnea
• Neck circumference that is thicker than average
• A narrow throat caused by genetics or engorged tonsils and adenoid

Central sleep apnea

• A past occurrence of stroke
• Use of narcotic pain medication
• Heart conditions
• Male individuals
• Middle-aged and old people

What Are The Treatments?

Treatment can include various interventions like weight loss, medical machines, surgery, medication, altering sleep position, and renewing your lifestyle. Mild sleep apnea treatment involves home remedies supporting lifestyle changes, including:

• Losing excessive weight
• Quitting smoking
• Avoiding the use of sleeping pills and alcohol
• Changing the sleeping style

Treatment for moderate sleep apnea may be using a machine that brings air pressure via a mask. The difference in air pressure from the environment keeps the pathway open. This machine is known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is the most common obstructive sleep apnea treatment method.

Another way to manage this disorder is positional therapy for sleep apnea. It is employed to keep the person on their side as they sleep. It can be achieved by placing an object on their back to prevent them from rolling over—a thing like fashioned pillows, a ball, or an alarm triggered by laying on it.