Friday, December 16, 2011

Apnea: What You Need To Know About It.

By Carla Pearce


When sleeping, some people have been observed to experience irregular breathing; this condition is referred to as apnea.

This short stops in breathing mean that the body as well as the brain do not get enough air. Since these persons often snore; they disrupt not only their sleep but also of those sleeping with them and with lack of sleep will come moodiness and it will start to affect the relationship.

Two types of apneas have been recognized and are described as central and obstructive. The latter is due to the airway being blocked by soft tissues from the throat; the former is due to the brain failing to properly recognize breathing signals at night.

As the name suggests the obstructive type is due to the airway being closed up by tissues originating from the throat area.

What are the effects of this disease if left untreated? Since the sleeping pattern of the person is disrupted, they are likely to develop depression and lack of concentration during the day.

Age: persons above the age of 40 are at a higher risk. Seeing that a high body mass index is associated with a huge neck, such people are predisposed. Family history is another risk factor.

Depending on how severe the condition is, various treatment options can be recommended. Positional therapy is the where the person is given full-length pillows to enhance sleeping on the side.

Stress, depression, and diminished concentration are common among these patients since their sleeping pattern is hardly satisfying.

Severity of the disease determines the treatment options. Positional therapy is recommended in mild cases; the patient is given a pillow to aid them in sleeping sideways.

Advanced cases can be treated through surgery to remove any tissue blocking the airway. Some form of masks worn at night to enhance smooth breathing can be used; Bipap and Cpap are the most common.Obesity is the most common culprit in this disease with 7 out of every 10 people presenting with the condition being overweight. Consequently, regular exercising is crucial in its prevention. People who snore often could be having apnea thus should seek medical attention.




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