Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder where a person’s breathing is obstructed at several points during the sleep cycle. The breathing may become shallow or stop entirely and can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. After each interruption the breathing returns to normal and interruptions can occur from five to 30 times an hour. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition and may disrupt sleep three or more times per week, resulting in poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway collapses during sleep.

Sleep Apnea Signs and Symptoms
The most common sign of sleep apnea is snoring. While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, snoring is a strong indicator. Daytime tiredness, morning headaches, fatigue, irritability, depression are also symptoms of sleep apnea. Many people with sleep apnea have trouble sleeping through the night and wake up feeling as if they need more sleep. In children sleep apnea usually results in hyperactivity, poor school performance, bed wetting and mouth breathing. Doctors usually diagnose sleep apnea based on family history and symptoms. They usually have the patient go to a sleep lab to confirm the diagnosis.

Sleep Apnea Treatments
Often lifestyle changes are enough to prevent sleep apnea. Alcohol and sleeping pills both may cause your throat to collapse during sleep. Excess weight can also put pressure on the airway. Reducing alcohol consumption, losing weight and quitting smoking can all reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. A doctor may prescribe custom-fit mouthpieces which adjust the mouth and tongue to keep the airways open. In severe cases a doctor may prescribe a device called a constant positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. The CPAP provides a constant flow of air to keep the throat open while you sleep.