Sleep apnea is possibly the most commonly seen of all sleep disorders and affects almost 18 million Americans. A sleeping disorder that is characterized by broken breathing while sleeping, it is also unquestionably the most dangerous of all sleep disorders as it starves the brain of crucial oxygen and can occasionally prove fatal.
There are two totally different types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is basically a neurological condition where breathing is broken because of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is basically a mechanical problem in which the windpipe is blocked either by too much tissue or by the abnormal relaxation or collapse of the muscles in and around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are basically the same with repeated interruptions to the breathing that deprive the brain of oxygen and place sufferers at greater risk from such things as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Regrettably, diagnosing sleep apnea can be a problem because snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and often results in sleep apnea being known as the snoring disease, is also present as a symptom of a variety of other medical problems. Snoring is frequently present in cases of sleep apnea because the brain responds to a drop in oxygen by awakening the sufferer enough to restart the breathing process and this usually causes snoring.
This recurrent awakening through the night also causes a poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling even more tired than when they got into bed. This also produces feelings of exhaustion during the course of the day and a great desire to sleep.
However, tiredness arising from poor quality sleep is just part of the picture and a variety of other symptoms will also generally be seen including headaches in the morning, forgetfulness and a difficulty in concentrating.
Without treatment the accumulating tiredness resulting from sleep apnea can lead to serious psychological problems beginning with tetchiness and moving on to depression with clear changes in both mood and behavior.
Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are treatable and, providing the condition is diagnosed at an early stage, this treatment can often be fairly simple. For instance, a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can normally be treated with little more than decongestants. In the same way, many cases of sleep apnea that are not too serious may be treated with the use of a mask which is worn during sleep and which provides a constant pressure of air to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most severe cases of sleep apnea surgery may be required and can be extremely effective, though it can also produce some complications and must be approached with care.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when it comes to treating sleep apnea is that as it carries the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to take sleeping pills or to take other forms of sleep enhancers without the approval of their doctor.
Natural sleep remedies without question provide an effective complement to medically prescribed medicines and herbal remedies which are designed to improve the quality and duration of sleep may well help in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness normally accompanying sleep apnea. Similarly, such things as chromatherapy, aromatherapy and meditation and guided relaxation can help to reduce the anxiety and insomnia that go along with sleep apnea.
