Sleep apnea is once you experience 1 or a lot more pauses in breathing (apnea) or abnormally low or shallow breathing (hypopnea) even though sleeping. These pauses could last for seconds or up to few minutes & might occur as couple of as 5 times to up to 30 times (or a lot more) within the duration of 1 hour. Sleep apnea statistics show that around 20% adults are victims, however only 10% of these are diagnosed.
Though a typical disorder, it often goes undiagnosed because of the not enough recognizable symptoms. This is 1 of the reasons why a lot of people who undergo from sleep apnea do not realize they have this condition. The lack of obvious symptoms & the truth that it occurs only during sleep, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea might typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea could be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, is due to the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, 1 of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects around 4% of men & 2% of women, with men far more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is a lot more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This is often seen in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or may possibly be on some form of medication. If it is not connected with any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most common complaint among people experiencing any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation might also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it could result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea may be recognized by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. A different is oximetry which measures the heart beat rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are many different treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very few undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition may have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
Though a typical disorder, it often goes undiagnosed because of the not enough recognizable symptoms. This is 1 of the reasons why a lot of people who undergo from sleep apnea do not realize they have this condition. The lack of obvious symptoms & the truth that it occurs only during sleep, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea might typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea could be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, is due to the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, 1 of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects around 4% of men & 2% of women, with men far more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is a lot more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This is often seen in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or may possibly be on some form of medication. If it is not connected with any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most common complaint among people experiencing any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation might also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it could result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea may be recognized by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. A different is oximetry which measures the heart beat rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are many different treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very few undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition may have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
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This article is a good introduction to this subject and if you are looking for more information click Sleep Apnea Statistics or you can read further articles on this topic here Sleep Apnea Tests.
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