Article by George Royal

One of the most well-known sleep disorders, sleep apnea is a fairly common condition. Marked by interruptions in breathing during sleep, sleep apnea causes the person suffering from this condition to wake up, or partially wake, several times during the night. Because of the frequency of these interruptions in breathing, a person with sleep apnea will have trouble getting a restful night’s sleep, causing them to feel the effects of sleep deprivation during their waking hours.

Two types of sleep apnea have been diagnosed: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea. OSA is caused by the soft palate becoming so relaxed that it actually blocks off the breathing passageway, while central sleep apnea is caused by the brain relaxing to the point that it does not remind the body to breathe. While both types can cause interruptions to breathing on their own, most people with sleep apnea actually have mixed apnea, which is a combination of both forms.

Read the rest of this entry

Article by T. Houser

Studies are being done on the relationship between sleep apnea and congestive heart failure. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea may suffer damage to the right side of their heart since it has to pump harder in order to support the added effort of their lungs attempting to overcome the airway obstruction. A test was done on forty-two patients with heart conditions. Nearly half of these patients had severe sleep apnea that had not been diagnosed prior to the study.

Sleep apnea is a major health syndrome affecting millions of people. Up to 95% of these people do not know that they have it and may never know. There is effective treatment for apnea but many people may find it difficult to find the appropriate qualified medical care. Sleep apnea is the frequent stoppage of a persons breathing which relaxed tissues in the throat cause during sleep. Snoring occurs by vibrations of the relaxed throat tissues and is usually the precursor for apnea. Heavy snorers and people who have pauses in their breathing could be at risk for heart disease. Sleep apnea and congestive heart failure may also be behind many traffic deaths of people over forty. The most serious cases of untreated sleep apnea patients have an increased chance of having a fatal traffic accident.

Read the rest of this entry

Article by Valentin Mayr

Defined by an average of ten breath intakes that fail per hour, sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is caused by an obstruction of the airway when the muscle tone relaxes during sleep. The obstruction occurs when the soft tissue in the airway togetcher with a large tongue, fat i the neck and the soft palate collapse and press down on the airway until blocked.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) only occurs in 4% of all patients with sleep apnea. It is caused by the brain failing to give sufficient signal to breath.

Read the rest of this entry

Article by Holli Carpenter

Sleep apnea is a sleep problem that’s's rather more threatening than simple snoring. Although both can be said to be as disturbing, it should be given more swift attention. This sort of disorder can be down to a substantial number of reasons.

But before we check out what causes this and the assorted sleep apnea cures, it’d also be good to realise what happens with the patient who is bothered with sleep apnea. One thing is sure, you don’t wish to be diagnosed for this illness as it can be life-endangering. An individual with this issue stops respiring for so long as one minute for as much as 100 times during his sleep cycle. This clearly can post a significant danger to the patient’s heart and brain.

Read the rest of this entry

Article by Evelyn Grazini

Is sleeping all night hard for you? Do you ever fall asleep, and then wake at night feeling like you are choking or struggling to catch your breath? Do you fall asleep during the day? If so, you aren’t the only one with these problems. More than 15 million people in America have these same symptoms, and they share a medical problem called sleep apnea. Two different types of sleep apnea exist; these are Central Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. People who have Central Sleep Apnea have a condition in which the brain fails to tell the body to breathe. This happens in the Central Nervous System. This type of sleep apnea doesn’t happen to most people; it’s more common in people with heart failure or those who have had a stroke. Most of the time, people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which happens as a result of the throat becoming blocked while they sleep. When people sleep on their backs, the throat muscle relaxes and may result in a narrowed or blocked airway. As you relax and become sleepier, breathing through either your mouth or nose, you sometimes experience a narrowed or closed airway. Then you either struggle to catch your breath or wake up gasping. If you don’t wake up enough to breathe deeply several times, your throat will begin to relax again, and you will repeat this cycle. You may repeat it several times throughout the night. Sleep Apnea Treatments: Usually, your doctor will diagnose you with sleep apnea after several tests in which you spend a night at a hospital trying to sleep. The type of treatment your doctor will prescribe depends on how severely your airway is blocked and if you quit breathing completely while you are sleeping. The most common treatment is a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, machine. You will wear a small mask that fits securely over your nose and mouth and provides a continuous airflow into your airway. Your airway won’t close, but you will be able to relax. Some other dental devices are also available that are less invasive than a CPAP machine.Consider trying a pillow designed for people who snore or have sleep apnea before you try these treatments. Sometimes, just sleeping in a different position can help a lot! One last thing – stop taking sleeping pills if you were taking them before; these can cause your muscles to become even more relaxed and worsen breathing problems.

About the Author
Read the rest of this entry

Article by Abdul Aziz

Part 1 of this article, “What is Sleep Apnea?”, ended with a description of obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and mixed sleep apnea- which combines obstructive and central sleep apnea. Since central sleep apnea deals with brain signals, going into it is beyond the scope of this article. So let

Article by Owen Jones

I wouldn’t worry so much having my bed partner lie on the couch in the living room snoring, as I would if he suffered from sleep apnea, a more serious and harmful disorder. This breathing disorder during sleep that is followed by interrupted and shallow breathing can be treated easily if it is discovered in time and not mistaken for ordinary snoring.

Therefore it is best to understand what sleep apnea and its indications are, so we can help a loved one that is suffering from the disorder of sleep apnea.

Read the rest of this entry

Article by Bob Shaughnessy

Sleep apnea in children is gaining more attention in the medical community. Although it is still often under diagnosed, it is estimated that up to 12 percent of kids snore and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) affects from one to ten percent of children. While both children and adults can have OSA, it is important to realize that sleep disordered breathing in children can often differ from that of adults in terms of cause, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Since symptoms of OSA in children are generally more subtle than those in adults with less distinctive and loud snoring, the recognition and diagnosis of sleep apnea in children requires the awareness of a different set of OSAS characteristics.

As with adults, sleep apnea in children is broken down into three groups: Obstructive; central; and mixed. Just as with adults, the most common form in children is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). That however, is where many of the similarities end.Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Children

Read the rest of this entry

Article by Alice Lane

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. There are three types of apnea exist: central, obstructive and mixed. Obstructive is the most common, causing excessive relaxation of throat muscles, the trachea collapses and blocks the airway. Treatments for apnea are life-style changes, a simple procedure. One of the most common non-invasive treatments for apnea is a pillow.

Sleep pillow is a pillow that is designed to eliminate snoring, as snoring is one of the most common indicators of apnea. Sleep pillows are designed to support the neck, so that the patient turns out (snoring and sleep apnea can worsen), to expand the neck to cradle the head and prevents the tongue from restricting the air, and side sleepers will help to relieve the shoulders and arms.

Read the rest of this entry

Article by Julian MacDowell

Said to affect some 18 million Americans, sleep apnea is a common, and sometimes dangerous sleep disorder. CPAP (constant positive airway pressure) treatment is one system that has long been used to relieve the symptoms of this condition. By administering a constant, slightly pressurised airflow to the sleep apnea sufferers airway, the symptoms of sleep apnea can be alleviated to some extend. The CPAP machine uses a small air compressor to achieve this aim.

This positive airflow prevents the airway becoming blocked by over relaxed soft tissues, and ensures that air is available to the patient at all times. Many people do, however, find cpap a little uncomfortable. Symptoms such as dry throats and headaches can occur, and exhalation through the mask can be uncomfortable due to the positive air pressure. Luckily, alternatives to cpap do exist, and this report will consider some of the other options.

Read the rest of this entry