Having eight hours of shut-eye a night might not cause someone to feel fully rested. Sleep apnea may be the culprit. Not only can it be annoying, but it can be lethal.
Apnea is a breathing disorder. There are two primary types. One type is obstructive sleep apnea. The other type is central sleep apnea.
Throat muscles relax in the more common obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Ninety percent of people afflicted with this disorder are not diagnosed. Apnea is Greek for "without breath." The person with OSA has his airway blocked by soft tissue in the back of the throat which closes while the person sleeps. This collapse of tissue causes people to stop breathing while sleeping. A person can stop breathing for a minute or longer. This can occur hundred of times over the course of a night.
Breathing quits just as frequently for people with central sleep apnea. This is where the brain decides not to tell the muscles controlling breathing to breathe.
The third kind is the mixed type which combines the two types just described. Fragmented slumber is one of its characteristics. Poor quality of sleep is an earmark of all three of these types.
Symptoms and signs of these conditions are loud snoring, having episodes where someone has witnessed a person stop her breathing while sleeping, sudden awakenings with shortness of breath, waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth, a headache in the morning, and trouble staying asleep. A telling symptom is being excessively sleepy during the daytime, which is called hypersomnia. This can have dangerous consequences. According to a Stanford University study, truck drivers with a disorder like this have an accident rate twice as high than those driving without that impairment.
Cardiovascular problems are a particular concern with this condition. Blood pressure can increase and this puts a strain on the cardiovascular system. The incidence of high blood pressure can be up to three times more with OSA. The risk of a stroke is increased. Heart disease can be caused. Sudden death can occur.
If symptoms are present, a physician should be consulted. A study will most likely be ordered.
After a diagnosis is made, treatment begins. A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is an effective treatment. CPAP machines lower the risks associated with sleeping disorders. CPAP masks fit over the nose. CPAP masks keep open airway passages. A sleep apnea machine is easy to use. Many do not realize how much this machine is a lifesaver.
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