(Newswire.net — September 9, 2021) — Simply put, sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder that takes place when someone’s breathing gets interrupted while sleeping. If the problem is left untreated, people suffering from this issue stop breathing while sleeping.
Also, when this condition is left untreated, it can result in multiple health issues comprising stroke, hypertension, heart failure, heart attacks, cardiomyopathy, and diabetes. When left untreated, it can be the reason for work-associated accidents, job impairment, and various motor vehicle crashes.
The two types of sleep apnea
Usually, there are two kinds of sleep apnea.
- Obstructive sleep apnea –It takes place after repeated episodes of partial or complete upper blockage during sleep. Generally, the breathing gets back after a body jerk and loud gasp. And when an apneic episode takes place, the chest muscles and the diaphragm work harder because the pressure maximizes to open up the airway. And such episodes can disturb a sound sleep, result in heart rhythm irregularities and minimize the oxygen flow in vital organs.
- Central sleep apnea –In this condition, the airway doesn’t get blocked. However, here the brain fails to signal the muscles for breathing because of instability in the respiratory control center. Usually, central apnea is associated with the central nervous system functions.
The symptoms of sleep apnea
It is essential to understand the symptoms of sleep apnea. Usually, the initial signs of sleep apnea are not identified by the patient himself or herself. It’s the bed partner who gets to realize that someone has a sleep disorder. Most patients have sleep complaints. The most common symptoms and signs include:
- Night sweats
- Snoring
- Any mood disturbances like anxiety and depression
- Frequent urination during night-time
- Headaches
- Fatigue or daytime sleepiness
- Cognitive impairment, such as irritability, trouble concentrating, or forgetfulness
- Sore throat or dry mouth upon awakening
- Abrupt awakenings accompanied by sensations of choking or gasping
- Restlessness during sleep
The probable treatments for sleep apnea
In most cases of obstructive sleep apnea, doctors usually make use of conservative therapy. Most think that is enough to treat it.
People who are overweight can feel better if they try to lose weight. But it can get challenging to lose weight if you have untreated obstructive sleep apnea because of maximized appetite and other metabolism changes. Even when a patient suffering from sleep apnea loses as much as 10% weight, they can bring down the occurrences of sleep apnea episodes at night. Hence, it is essential to approach weight loss carefully.
Also, people who have sleep apnea shouldn’t use specific sleeping pills and resort to alcohol. It can increase the chances of collapsing during sleep and can extend the apneic periods. Additionally, a few patients who have sleep apnea witness breathing pauses when they end up sleeping on their back. During such situations, using a wedge pillow and various other devices that help to sleep at the side can help.
Last but not least, people who have nasal congestion and sinus problems should resort to breathing strips and nasal sprays to bring down snoring. It helps to enhance the airflow during nighttime breathing. It is necessary for people not to skip sleep so that they can recover well.