This kids passes out anywhere…

If you are thinking that you may need to seek out the help of your doctor, do so. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can lead to additional compilations as it goes on.

Nevertheless, you may still not be sure if you need to get help. One sign that you do is if your spouse is complaining about your snoring and just how loud it has gotten. In short, if they can not sleep well because of your snoring, it is time to get help. If you wake up at night and find yourself short of breath and you are not sure why, this can be a sign of a serious issue in that of central sleep apnea. If you find yourself facing pauses in your breathing during your sleep, or your spouse experiences this in you, it is also time to seek out the help you need. Finally, if you get to sleep at night and you just can’t understand why you are so tired during the day; this too can be an important consideration.

The fact is that there are countless opportunities that you could be experiencing. One of the most important things for you to do is to recognize the possibility of having something wrong. When this happens to you, or you are considering the fact hat your spouse may have this sleep apnea condition, it is necessary for you to determine the next step that only your doctor will be able to help you with.

If you find that you may have some of the symptoms and risks of sleep apnea, it may be necessary to turn to your doctor for help. In fact, if there is any question you should be asking your doctor for help. Yet, there are a number of things to take into consideration when it comes to who to ask and what to say. First and foremost, it is very common for doctors to not be able to diagnosis sleep apnea unless they have had a number of tests done on you. So, your first stop should be with your family doctor to get this Okayed to find a specialist.

Why bother with a specialist in the field? You really do want to find someone that knows what you are facing. You want to find a sleep study clinic, in fact, if that is possible. These can be found in most local areas and are often in hospitals or in other medical facilities that are available around the clock. Because you will need to spend the night here, you will want to make arrangements to not need to be rushed anywhere before or after your come in. Working with someone that is a specialist means that they are more likely to know how to work the mechanics of the study as well as how to interpret the results effectively.

Those that come in for a sleep study often find themselves unable to sleep. Who can sleep with someone else watching you? Nevertheless, you will want to relax yourself and find a way to get to sleep. It is necessary for you to do this so that they can monitor your condition. In a good facility, they will offer you quiet and will provide a good amount of comfortably that you may not have other places.

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Want to find out more about for sleep apnea, then visit http://www.sleepapneaguide.net/ on how to choose the best sleep apnea treatments for your needs.

Guys have quite a number of reasons that they use as an excuse so that they don’t have to be tested for Sleep Apnea.

The feeling of Vulnerability

Nobody wants to believe they are unable to cope with their situation.Adult males are a lot more scared of not really being accountable for their own future. There is a real concern that one thing really faulty is going to be found in them. They might be given one thing that they cannot adjust or handle. This can cause a nick in their pride, moreover, they may need to admit that they have a downside. By means of adverting the actual medical sleep analysis, they can steer away from the chances that their secret might get around.

Dread of Cost

Testing together with therapy of Sleep Apnea might be a significant ticket item. I have actually been through this and used money as a reason to not discover the truth. I let my very own dread that I couldn’t endure the cost stop me from obtaining what the situation truly turned out to be. It is a never ending cycle for some people. Not expending the cash to get tested plus remedied, sentences these individuals to resume weak career function, leading to poor profession prospects to go forward. Dread of loss is usually a compelling destruction in objectivity.

Adjustments to Life style

If revealed, a guy will most likely establish very clear modifications to his lifestyle. Many males have come across or seen many other guys that have CPAP paraphernalia. These people don’t wish the particular way of life changes that are included in having a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. There exists the problem of looking for a mask that seals will. The need to lug the device along with them each and every point in time they set off on an airline travel, can be a fuss. Cleaning the face mask and device definitely is a constant bind. Take a battery power backpacking with you is just not traveling light or even having a vacation restfully. Even having to hug your spouse is never the same with a cpap machine in the way. This all will cease a man from obtaining and facing his reality.

Step Over Your Worry

Guys are thought of to be fearless. They ought to not let fear of the truth quit them from discovering it. If you have sleep apnea, there is so much to gain from correct diagnosis and treatment. Try to remember the thing about profession that I mentioned in the article earlier. Yes, addressing sleep apnea can typically fix the efficiency issues that are stopping your career advancement.

Do you need to be around for your loved ones? It is said that 70% of stroke patients have got unattended sleep apnea. Are you a danger on the highway? An enormous quantity of car crashes are brought on by untreated sleep apnea patients falling asleep at the steering wheel. Getting treated definitely will assist you to stay awake, and not kill your spouse and children or the loved ones of someone else.

The simple truth is that you will need to start acting like a real man and face your reality. Get tested.

About the Author

Ken has a background in running and owning a small business focused IT service firm. His passion is to help others that suffer from sleep disorders, including sleep apnea which he also suffers from. Free information about sleep apnea can be found at Sleep Apnea Revealed.

When sleep apnea is first diagnosed, whether it’s you, a friend, or family member, the explanation can be a bit startling. Luckily, the remedy is fairly simply and generally effective. And, fortunately, there are many great resources available online to help, from sites that help you get the best fit for a CPAP mask to others that offer checklists for talking to your doctor about distressing symptoms.A diagnosis of sleep apnea must be made by your internist or family practitioner, who may even refer patients to a sleep specialist before a final diagnosis is made. But if you think you or someone in your home may have this condition, general articles about sleep apnea symptoms can be quite helpful as a reference when starting the conversation with your doctor. Here are some places to start:

The American Sleep Apnea Association has a site loaded with articles and videos as well as tools to assess your symptoms and tips for finding resources locallyThe Mayo Clinic website has a nice general overview of classic symptoms, related conditions, causes, and treatmentsType “sleep apnea” into Google

What is OSA?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) describes a medical condition that is characterized by intermittent episodes of absence of breathing (apnea) caused by complete obstruction of the upper airway passages during sleep. Narrowing of the air passages at the back of the throat occur in certain group of individuals. Complete closure of these passages can occur during sleep as a result of further relaxation of the tissue at the back of the throat.

During these episodes of apnea, which last from 10-90 seconds, reduction of oxygen level in the body develops until the apnea is terminated by an arousal, which restores the airway patency. This cycle of events is repeated multiple times during sleep in individuals with OSA, resulting in fragmented sleep.

How common is this condition?

OSA is an under-recognized and under-diagnosed condition worldwide. It is estimated that OSA affects up to 25% of the adult population. A study showed that

93% of women and 82% of men with moderate to severe OSA are not diagnosed.

What are the consequences of OSA?

Excessive daytime sleepiness is a major consequence of OSA. It can result in:

1. Poor concentration and memory

2. Affect job and school performance

3. Affect relationships

4. Poor quality of life

5. Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents

Oxygen starvation occurs during sleep and it increases the risk for:

1. Hypertension

2. Heart failure and heart attacks

3. Heart rhythm abnormalities

4. Strokes

5. Increased lung pressures (pulmonary hypertension)

6. Death

OSA is also associated with increased total cholesterol and triglycerides, increased insulin resistance and systemic inflammation.

When do we suspect OSA?

We suspect OSA in individuals with the following symptoms:

1. Excessive daytime sleepiness

2. Gasping and choking during sleep

3. Poor concentration at work or school

4. Loud habitual snoring

5. Hypertension

Obesity is the most important risk factor for OSA. OSA is present in about 45% of obese individuals. It was also found to be moderately prevalent (46%) among obese children.

How is OSA diagnosed?

OSA is suspected based on symptoms and physical examination. The diagnosis of OSA is confirmed further by a sleep study (polysomnography) that is interpreted by a sleep physician.

What is a sleep study?

It is a multiple-component test that electronically transmits and records specific physical activities while an individual sleeps. The recordings become data that are analyzed by a qualified physician to determine whether or not a sleep disorder is present, including OSA. OSA is diagnosed when there are more than 5 episodes of apnea lasting at least 10 seconds in one minute during the entire sleep period.

The equipments used in a sleep test include:

1. Surface electrodes on the face and scalp that will send recorded electrical signals from the

brain, eyes and muscles to the measuring equipment

2. Belts placed around the chest and abdomen to measure breathing frequency

3. ECG (electrocardiogram) to record heart rate and rhythm

4. Sensor at the nostrils to record airflow

5. Bandage-like probe on the finger to measure the amount of oxygen in the body

6. Microphone to record snoring activity

The sleep study is done overnight and it can be done in hospital or home setting. Qualified sleep technicians will be involved in setting up the equipments.

The sleep physician upon completion of the sleep study will prepare a detailed report. It provides useful diagnostic information about sleep related breathing disorders, movement disorders in sleep and other less common conditions like seizures in sleep and other abnormal behaviours during sleep.

Can OSA be treated?

Treatment of OSA is based on severity of OSA and individualized approach. Mild OSA can be treated with weight loss, better sleep hygiene, sleep posture, reducing alcohol consumption and dental devices.

The most effective treatment will be the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine where air pressure is used to keep the upper airway passages continuously open during sleep. Removing the obstruction will improve the sleep and reverse the hypertension, cardiac problems and metabolic abnormalities associated with OSA.

Occasionally, surgery involving the upper airway and jaw may be indicated in certain individuals.

About the Author

Pulmonologist & Physician Visiting Consultant

Nobel Chest & Internal Medicine Centre

www.nobelspecialists.com

info@nobelspecialists.com

Dr. Allen Moses’s patient Jim explains how he was able to return to a quality of life and loss his CPAP dependence with a small inner oral appliance from Dr. Moses. For more info please visit www.ChicagoDowntownDentist.com

1. Sleep deprivationSleep Apnea causes one to get out of its naturnal cycle of sleep. As a result, often, sufferers finds it hard to get back to sleep once awakened. As a result, most suffererswill be deprived of sleep as well.

2. mental problemsDue to lack of sleep, the emotional state of mind gains more tension, which in turn causes mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and stress. It could lead to low self esteem as well since sleep deprivation makes one gain dark circles and eye bags, impairing one’s beauty.

3. deteriorate your healthProven by statistics, 50% of sleep apnea sufferers suffers from high blood pressure. They are also more likely to have stroke and heart attack. The causative link lies in the fact that sufferersare usually obese and this already greatly increase the chance of one getting the illnesses as mentioned.

4. Short-term memoryAs mentioned, Sleep Apnea leads to a poor sleep cycle, as such one suffer insomnia. Studies have shown that if you suffer insomnia, you will have bad memory because sleep deprivation will slow down brain activity. Some also suggest that if you sleep after you had an exam, it is more likely that you will retain what you have learnt.

5. affects your IntelligenceOften, it is those you lack sleep who fares badly in an examination. Therefore you frequently see teachers urging their students to sleep more instead of burning midnight oil the night before the examinations. Since Sleep Apnea causes sleep deprivation, it affects you intelligence as well.

6. makes you less productiveI’m sure most of you have experience this, if you can’t sleep the previous night, the next day you will definitely be overcome with fatigue. Being tired, you will face difficulty completing a task assigned to you. Most frequently, you might even screw things up. Carrying a debt reduced your efficiently greatly.

About the Author

Can’t Sleep? Fret not, http://www.sleeps-well.com/ is here to help you.

Feeling Depressed? Visit http://bipolar-depressed.com/ today! We tell it all!

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.

Sleep apnea is sometimes difficult to diagnose, simply because it only strikes while the person is asleep and won’t notice that it is happening. Because most people with sleep apnea awake only partially – not fully – so they do not actually notice that they have had their sleep cycle interrupted. Thus, if someone wants to determine if they have sleep apnea, they will have to look for the symptoms.

The most common symptom of sleep apnea is excessive sleepiness upon waking. Because the sleep cycle is being interrupted, the person is not refreshed during the night and will wake up feeling lethargic, fatigued, or even feel like they need to go back to bed for another round of sleep. Also, people with sleep apnea almost always snore; often very loudly. However, a person does not necessarily have to show these symptoms to have sleep apnea. In fact, a bed partner may be the only person to notice the interruptions in breathing during the night.

Additionally, people with sleep apnea are often overweight to obese, so treatment usually involves helping people to lose weight. Treatment can also include eliminating alcohol or other substances that help people relax, quitting smoking, using special pillows or other appliances that help keep the airways open, or even special apparatus that uses air pressure to keep the airways open. This last form of treatment, continuous pressure airway pressure (CPAP), uses a breathing mask to pressurize the airways and inflate them, almost like a balloon. Though this form of treatment is more than a little disconcerting at first, they quickly get used to the mask and find that they feel much more alert in the morning.

Sleep apnea is very difficult for a person to self-diagnose but, once the problem is found, there are treatments available. But for people who are overweight and have large necks, smoke, use sedatives or muscle relaxers, or just drink too much alcohol, lifestyle changes would be the best place to start either keeping sleep apnea away or treating it before it becomes a major health concern. After all, not breathing is a problem whenever it happens. So by treating sleep apnea now, sufferers can keep performing the one act they need to perform every day and every night.

About the Author

Sleep HQ: your guide to sleep apnea and getting a good night’s sleep.

what can I do in the meantime I sleep alot but I never feel rested and have anxiety attacks
and depression due to my obesity I need to wait another 2 months or so for surgewry

Best answer:

Answer by ryandote
stop eating, exercise, and lose some weight.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Best answer:

Answer by Bradley Whitehead
I think it COULD help in theory, i mean it’s a forced air system right? You’d probably be best off treating the source of the apnea, because in your specific case sleep apnea (and snoring) seem to just be a symptom of your allergies and congestion. Talk to your doctor about a nighttime decongestant for long term use.

You probably don’t want to use the over the counter nighttime decongestants for a very extended period of time because they’re made with ephedrine or pseudophedrine, which isn’t good to take every day for a long time.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Sleep apnea is a condition that prevents an individual from breathing properly while sleeping. Those suffering from this condition momentarily stop breathing during periods of rest. The severity varies from person to person, depending on what is causing the condition. The person’s airflow may be obstructed, or there may be a problem with the way his or her brain gives the signals that trigger breathing.

Many people suffering from more mild forms of sleep apnea may not be aware there is a problem. While the person is at rest, those closest to him or her can listen for extremely loud snoring, mouth breathing, gasping or snorting. A sleep apnea sufferer may also experience restless nights, which results in extreme tiredness during the day. Once it has been determined that the problem is more serious than basic snoring, family members or loved ones should encourage the individual to see a healthcare provider.

A person dealing with this condition may not want to see a doctor. In this case, family members can persist in their support by explaining the possible consequences of ignoring the problem. Sleep apnea can lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure. Physical and emotional health problems can occur daily as well. These include headaches, anxiety, depression, forgetfulness, weight gain and problems urinating.

Assisting the person with the individual’s treatment plan is another good way to show support. Loved ones can participate in certain aspects of the treatment. If the person is told to make dietary changes or stop smoking, loved ones can make the same changes as a sign of encouragement. When medication is prescribed, a supportive family member can take an active role by dispensing the medication each day.

In addition to supporting the individual with lifestyle changes, family members can show encouragement by helping to ease the person’s anxiety. A loved one can accompany the individual to doctor appointments or scheduled surgeries. Some sufferers are given sleep apnea machines, or continuous positive airway pressure machines, which provide continuous airflow to the person during rest. Loved ones can remind the person to use the machine, and they can reiterate its importance.

When a person suffers from sleep apnea, the blocked airflow or malfunctioning central nervous system prevents his or her lungs from expanding enough to fill with oxygen. Lack of oxygen in the blood can cause a number of more serious problems. Family members or loved ones of a sleep apnea sufferer should provide ample support that will lead to proper treatment. The right amount of encouragement from loved ones can help keep a sleep apnea sufferer healthy.

About the Author

Author is a freelance writer. For more information on sleep apnea machines please visit http://cpapplus.com

Being afflicted by sleep apnea is no walk in the park. These people tend to have breathing problems during their sleep so leading to awakening with a choking feeling and loud snoring. If you have tried other machines like the sleep apnea mask and feel the tubes and mask aren’t to your liking; then you may need to try the sleep apnea pillow.

Wow a pillow that may basically help with sleep apnea? Indeed! You see, due to complaints from patients about the masks manufacturers have found a way to build sleep apnea machines in the shape of a cushty sleep apnea pillow.

These pillows are manufactured with either polyester or special foam that attempt to improve the quality of your sleep. Because of the materials used the sleep apnea pillow will stop the wearer from turning on their back by supporting their neck.

This pillow will also support the head to help in the reduction of the obstruction of the airways, and decrease the chances of headaches during the day.

Don’t take sleep apnea gently, because this disease proscribes respiring at nights, and meddles with your daily existance. Take steps to govern it.

Also don’t think that because the sleep apnea pillow sounds so great that its cost is outside your reach. These costs on the pillows can be from anywhere below to over 0. Reasonable now! I assumed so.

Doctors and regular folks will tell you that a good night’s rest will leave you feeling fresh and prepared to take on the world. So why not get on the way to a good start, with a good night’s rest, by using the sleep apnea pillow.

Use the tool that has the number one source of information; use the Net. Do some digging, and read what people who have utilised the sleep apnea pillow want to say about the product. Take step one to a better night’s sleep..

If you think you may need a sleep apnea pillow, do not delay. This is a serious disorder that can have fatal consequences. Take a look at this site for more info: www.SleepApneaObesity.com.

About the Author

Being afflicted by sleep apnea is no walk in the park. These people tend to have breathing problems during their sleep so leading to awakening with a choking feeling and loud snoring. If you have tried other machines like the sleep apnea mask and feel the tubes and mask aren’t to your liking; then you may need to try the sleep apnea pillow.

Getting restful sleep is vital. During sleep, blood pressure and body temperature changes, while respiration and heart rate decreases. Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is defined by repeated interruptions in breathing and / or reduced respiratory flow during sleep. The most common symptoms include difficulty breathing, snoring, restless sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent headaches, enlarged tonsils and large tongue volume, and irritability. Sleep apnea can be mild, moderate or severe. If it’s left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity or depression. One common treatment is the use of sleep apnea devices.

Using sleep apnea devices as a way of treatment usually involves oxygen administration with continuous positive pressure (CPAP), which works very well in preventing apnea symptoms. Also, it’s necessary to change your lifestyle in order to sleep better and cure this condition. In severe cases, surgical treatment is the most appropriate solution. The main benefit of the operation is that the oxygen saturation in the arterial blood increases.

What exactly should you change about your lifestyle to alleviate the symptoms induced by sleep apnea? Well, it’s recommended to stop smoking and to avoid the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and sedatives. Obese and overweight people should lose weight in order to improve the quality of sleep. Overweight individuals who lose even 10% of their weight can reduce sleep apnea.

The sleep apnea devices is a method of treatment that your doctor will prescribe after diagnosing the condition, Other things you can try is to elevate the head of your bed 4 -6 inches to alleviate snoring. Maintaining regular sleep hours and using a nasal dilator is extremely useful.

CPAP-Continuous Positive Airways Pressure is considered the most effective method of therapy. CPAP involves the use of a ventilation device that provides pressurized air to prevent the airway from collapsing. This method is indicated for the treatment of moderate and severe sleep apnea. Patients who feel uncomfortable wearing this device have other options: bi level PAP and AutoPAP or Oral breathing devices that keep the tongue and jaw in an optimum position to maintain the airways open during sleep.

For some patients who need the sleep apnea devices, the doctor might recommend you to use a device known as AutoPAP, which is able to automatically adjust pressure. BiPAP devices provide two levels of pressure: a higher pressure during inspiration and lower pressure during exhalation. This type of device is recommended to patients who need a higher pressure than can be delivered with other devices.

Most sleep apnea devices are very comfortable and extremely silent. Usually, patients get used with these devices in a few days. Therefore, the possible disadvantages of following such a treatment are negligible compared to its benefits. However, for patients who do not tolerate or fail non-surgical measures, surgical treatment to anatomically alter the airway is available.

Click here to read more about the sleep apnea machines available to treat SAS. Visit the site SleepApneaNatural.com to find out what other sleep apnea cures you can use as alternative treatments and also other specific information on this sleeping disorder that affects so many people.

About the Author

This article presents the sleep apnea devices that are avialable to treat the SAS. Also it give some other tips on how to reduce sleep apnea.

Many people may relate sleep apnea to snoring, which may seem right. But they should take note that there is a difference between sleep apnea and snoring. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder which causes a person to have shallow breathing patterns or pauses in breathing. Snoring on the other hand is a vibration of the respiratory system that results to sounds because of blocked air movement. Snoring is a result of sleep apnea most of the time because of an obstructed air passageway. Some snores are soft, while some are loud and unpleasant. The respiratory structures that are commonly involved are the uvula and soft palate and this is caused because of any of the following: mispositioned jaw, fat gathering around one’s throat, throat weakness that causes it to close during sleep, and obstruction of airway.

The difference between sleep apnea and snoring is that the former is a cause while the latter may be its result. sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated right away as it has significant effects in the body. An individual who suffers from sleep apnea will stop breathing for a few seconds, which could happen for up to 50 times a night! This will cause the person to get easily tired and sleepy during daytime because these breathing pauses briefly wakes him up in the middle of the night in order to resume breathing.

Snoring on the other hand is also a sleep disorder resulting from congestion or blockage of the airways. Sleep apnea may cause snoring, but other factors such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids may also cause this disorder.

Most people will not be aware if they are snoring or have sleep apnea since this only occurs while he is asleep. A bed partner may notice this in him. If the individual is snoring, this does not mean that he has sleep apnea because snoring may be the result of many other things such as enlarged tonsils. If a doctor diagnoses that a person has sleep apnea, he may recommend treatment right away because this may cause more serious diseases in the future.

If you want to treat your sleep apnea or snoring by natural means, you may find that there are actually simple remedies to have an apnea and snore-free bedtime. First and foremost, leading a healthy lifestyle can help you treat sleep apnea. Have a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine. This also helps reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke. If you snore a lot, changing some lifestyle habits may help you lessen it.

When your sleeping partner makes you aware about your snoring, tell him to change your sleep position every time. Snoring occurs first when you are lying on your back. Because of this position, your tongue falls back, which may increase air passageway resistance. If you regularly snore, sleep on your side. You may also lose body weight to help you stop snoring during the night. Obese or simply overweight individuals have a bulky tissue in the neck and this increases the chance of snoring. Losing even just a modest amount of weight can help you prevent yourself from snoring.

You may also avoid sedatives and alcohol because anything that may cause sedation such as small amounts of alcohol and sleeping pills may increase airway resistance. These may suppress your breathing, thus, causing you to snore.

There are more alternative treatments to sleep apnea and snoring. Consult your sleep therapist about which method is best. If home remedies don’t work for you, have your sleeping habits examined again. This will help you a lot in the long run.

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This video—presented by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health—shows how Jim, the father of two young girls, has coped with having sleep apnea. Symptoms such as waking up tired and falling asleep while driving long distances made Jim concerned about his health. While Jim was sleeping, his wife noticed snoring and long periods of silence followed by gasps. Wanting a better quality of life, Jim sought the advice of his doctor, who recommended a sleep study. As a result of the sleep study, Jim was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea and prescribed treatment with a CPAP machine. CPAP provides mild air pressure to keep the airways open during sleep. Jim explains that adjusting to CPAP treatment was hard at first, and his inability to stick with the treatment led to more symptoms. However, after using the CPAP machine regularly, Jim feels better and has more energy to do activities with his children. Also view this video at www.nhlbi.nih.gov
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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.

A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which helps people with sleep apnea, may also help people with coronary artery disease that experience their blood oxygen lowering during disordered breathing during sleep. Congestive heart failure affects approximately 2.5 million Americans. A study was done with several obese patients who had both sleep apnea and congestive heart failure were treated with a CPAP machine. This treatment resulted in the patients developing an increase in energy, less fatigue and lower blood pressure. These patients also experienced a more positive outlook due to the treatments results.

The National Center for Sleep Disorders Research is examining whether there is a relationship between sleep apnea and congestive heart failure along with high blood pressure and chest pain. Some researchers have suggested that apnea may cause heart problems. It is possible that central apnea can cause high blood pressure, surges of adrenaline and irregular heart beats. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send a signal to breathe. It is not caused by obstruction or snoring.

Sleep apnea sufferers have a higher risk of death than the rest of the population. Problems include sleep apnea and congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, depression and as mentioned before death due to accidents. The sleep apnea sufferer’s family has a difficult time dealing with the illness. Other issues outside of home are affected such as difficulties at work caused by constant sleep problems.

In conclusion, people with sleep apnea and congestive heart failure should consider treating their sleep apnea might just help their chances of surviving heart disease. Sleep apnea is long overdue for more attention; it is the second leading cause of daytime fatigue after insomnia. Getting a poor sleep is a major health problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

About the Author

Do you suffer from sleep apnea? Our site focuses on sleep apnea treatments and symptoms for sufferers of sleep apnea.by T. D. Houser

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.

Sleep Apnea is considered a serious medical condition which needs to be treated as soon as possible. This is because of OSA/CSA being the cause for many complications:

Cardiovascular complicationsOxygen levels drop during apnea, thus increasing blood pressure to offset the drop.That can be an enormous strain on the cardiovascular system. The risk of high blood pressure is increased two or threefold by OSA/CSA. The more severe the apnea, the higher is the risk of high blood pressure. No matter whether blood pressure is present, the risk of stroke is significantly increased by hypertension.

A precondition of heart desease combined with the oxygen deprevation can lead to sudden death through a cardiac event. It has been shown in several studies that there is a strong link between sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and other vascular deseases. OSA is closely linked to heart diseases and in the majority of the cases is at least a contributing cause of it.

In contrast to that CSA or central sleep apnea is frequently caused by an existing heart disease.

Sleep Deprivation and Daytime Fatigue.Sleep apnea leads to repeated awakenings and an overall shallower sleep during night, which does not allow for a restful sleep. It is no surprise that this leads to extensive daytime drowsiness and lack of concentration. Another result of the overall exhaustion is moddiness and irritability.

Additional risk is imposed through fatigue when driving a car, or concentration on (school-)work (ultimately leading to worse performance and frustration). People with OSA/CSA may also complain of memory problems, morning headaches, mood swings or feelings of depression.

Common problems with surgery and medication. Sleep apnea patients are likely to have problems breathing when they are sedated lying on their back thus they easily have complication after surgery. In addition it might take longer to recover after surgery due to the complications with sleeping aids. In case CSA/OSA is not diagnosed yet, it imposes a large risk of complications after surgery. In case it is diagnosed it has to be discussed with the doctor before surgery.

Partners’ sleep deprivation. If you snore, you probably have experienced it. People in the same room are usually disturbed by the noises and don’t get sufficient sleep themselves. In the end partners might not be able to share a room anymore which might disrupt the relationship.

Nocturia.With the oxygen level decreasing and carbon dioxide increasing the blood is more acidic and the heart rate drops and heart vessels contract. Once the brain is informed of the problem the patient wakes up. By now, the heart rate is very high and the heart falsely signals excess fluid. The protein in charge of carrying the signal will initiate the dispose of excess sodium and water.

Impotence/Sexual Dysfunction (ED).According to recent studies OSA/CSA and ED are often linked. In the past this was often ascribed to the undersupply with oxygen and damage of the cardiovascular system.

Recent studies also suggest, that the erections men naturally have during deep REM sleep help maintain the erectile function. Sleep apnea will often shorten or even prevent the REM stages.

However, ED is also often found in obese men and obesity is the single most important risk factor for sleep apnea.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). There have been recent studies, showing that OSA and acid reflux are strongly linked. Approximately half of the patients with OSA also have GERD. With these symptoms being especially worse at night doctors suggested that the back of up of stomach acid in GERD may produce spasms in the vocal cords (larynx), blocking the flow of air to the lungs and causing apnea. Up to now, it could not be proven, that a cure for acid reflux also helps limiting the risk of sleep apnea.

Another explanation is, that the apnea might lead to changes in the pressure in the throat increasing the GERD.Similarily to ED, there is a connection between GERD and obesity which again causes sleep apnea. It is therefore not clear if a direct connection is actually present.

About the Author

I did extensive work on the topic of sleep apnea, mainly focussing on alternative cures other than CPAP or surgery. Please check out my information page on Alternative Cures For Sleep Apnea as an entry point.

If you’re looking for a good sleep apnea treatment, I suggest that you do some research before deciding on anything. In many cases, surgery is the only viable option for permanent relief from sleep apnea. However, following surgery on the mouth or throat, the temporary swelling that occurs can be as bad, if not worse, than the sleep apnea itself. Postoperative swelling can have disastrous effects on the airway, making it difficult, if not impossible, to breathe. Because of this, patients who have had tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies or tongue reductions have to be monitored very carefully.

If having a piece of your throat or mouth removed isn’t your sleep apnea treatment of choice, you may want to consider handing the problem with pharmaceuticals. While there are currently no drugs you can take to cure obstructive the sleep apnea, if the blockage is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids due to infectious mononucleosis there are prescriptions that can help you. For example, a regimen of anti inflammatory medicines such as prednisone and other glucocorticoid drugs can drastically reduce the lymphoid tissue. Immediately, you’ll see a drastic reduction in snoring and sleep apnea. These effects will be short term, but since the enlargement is also temporary it will be the perfect solution. If not, perhaps neurostimulation will be the answer to your prayers.

Still, if you’re looking for a more natural sleep apnea treatment there are some available. Avoiding alcohol and other medications that relax the central nervous system have been proven to make a difference in some cases. Other natural treatments include losing weight and kicking smoking habits to the curb. If you don’t smoke, don’t drink and aren’t overweight, breathing exercises that are taught in Yoga classes may do the trick. These breathing exercises work to restore muscle function in the throat and mouth.

About the Author

To discover the best snoring remedies, visit http://www.StopSnoringSystem.com/ today! FREE mini-course reveals natural sleep apnea treatment options!

About to submit my paperwork but I have to face a road block with sleep apnea. I’m a little frustrated but trying to work through it.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

and don’t get me started on the politics of it all

Best answer:

Answer by lovee33
You could put one of those strips on the bridge of your nose. It should keep you from snoring, and keep your airway clear. You should still see a doctor if you have not already.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!