Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment - Be Aware

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment consists of using a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, machine or fixing the obstruction with medication, dental devices, or surgery. If you suspect you have obstructive sleep apnea you should see your doctor as soon as possible so you may begin treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects the way you breathe when you are sleeping. Not only is obstructive sleep apnea a serious condition it could be life- threatening. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which you actually stop breathing for any where from 10 to 60 seconds up to 30 times per hour every hour you are asleep.sleep apnea

Some of the symptoms or affects you may notice are feeling more tired when you wake up than when you went to sleep, being more tired during the day, frequent morning headaches, recent unexplained weight gain, inattentiveness, poor judgement and memory loss, mood swings and depression.

Your doctor should be able to make a correct diagnosis just by you relating these symptoms to them and then can order a sleep study to confirm their diagnosis and to get you started on an obstructive sleep apnea treatment regimen to reduce your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

During the sleep study you will be monitored for electrical activity of your brain, REM sleep, heart rate and blood oxygen levels. If it is confirmed that you do have obstructive sleep apnea you will be awakened and fitted with the CPAP machine which blows air into your nose and or mouth at a continuous rate to help keep your airway open. Once you go back to sleep the technician will adjust the flow until the best rate of airflow for you is determined.

After the sleep study, you may be required to purchase your CPAP machine for the time you need to use it or you may be able to rent one from a medical supply store. Any tubing you need for CPAP operation should be disposable and you can set up monthly delivery of supplies you need from the supply company. If it is determined that you need oxygen as a supplement to the CPAP then you can set up delivery of that, too, at the same time.

You may just need to wear an oral device, custom made and fitted by your dentist to help keep your tongue and soft palate from falling back and closing off your airway when you sleep. Keep in mind you should also limit the use of depressants like alcohol and sedatives which can make your condition worse.

Surgery may be required to remove the obstruction. You may be a candidate for surgery if you have a deviated septum or some other blockage that can safely be removed by a surgical procedure. Obviously, no surgery is completely safe and all precautions should be taken by you and your doctor before the surgery takes place. surgery should be considered only for the most severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea.

These are all options you have for obstructive sleep apnea treatment. It all depends on the severity of the apnea you are diagnosed with as to what treatment options you and your doctor  choose for you.

Maryjane Angelo

Sleep Apnea Definition - 3 Types Of Sleep Apnea

3 Types Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea definition is a sleep disorder characterized by the stoppage of breathing while sleeping from 10 to 60 seconds and gasping for breath or snorting or snoring when breathing is resumed.

There are three types of sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea, and Complex Sleep Apnea. Each are caused by different factors but both can lead to serious complications up to and including death.

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by the tongue and muscles of the throat relaxing to the point of blocking the airway during sleep possibly caused by obesity. Men over the age of 40 who are considered overweight or obese are the most affected by this type of sleep apnea. This is not to say that women cannot also be afflicted with the same disorder it is just more prevalent in men.

Central sleep apnea definition is characterized by a defect in the respiratory center in the brain being unable to transmit the correct signals to the muscles responsible for breathing to initiate a breath.

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Some people can suffer from a combination of these two types and this is called Complex Sleep Apnea. Anyone of any age can be affected by sleep apnea, even children. Premature babies are most likely to be subject to sleep apnea because their lung function is impaired due to being premature.

The premature infant is usually sent home with a device called an apnea monitor and is kept on the monitor until approximately two weeks after true gestational age is reached and their doctor deems it safe for them to be removed from monitoring.

If you suspect your spouse has sleep apnea, watch them for a few nights in a row and record what you observe. Snoring is not always caused by sleep apnea but can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea and that if it gets worse or is loud enough to wake the dead, you should consult your doctor about it.

Typical sufferers of sleep apnea actually stop breathing frequently throughout the night with as many as 30 episodes or more with gasps or snorts heard when breathing resumes. Keep an ear open to how many times this happens during a one hour period and also if the way they are breathing wakes them up frequently. Night sweats are a frequent occurrence with people with sleep apnea, especially complex sleep apnea.

Also as a part of your record, note how your spouse feels during the day. Are they tired, irritable, impatient, feel depressed or have frequent mood swings during the day? Do they wake with a headache or dry, sore throat? If they do this probably means they are not getting good rest during the night and should see their doctor to talk about sleep apnea and possibly enter into a sleep study to confirm or rule out sleep apnea.

Treatment for sleep apnea may include a CPAP machine that you wear at night, a mouth guard, or in the most severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea, surgery may be needed. Talk to your doctor about your sleep apnea definition to find out what your best option is.

Maryjane Angelo