Millions of American people suffer from a sleeping disorder called severe sleep apnea. Many of us are at high risk of experiencing and developing this condition. Proper understanding and knowledge about severe sleep apnea is important not only for you but also for those close to you.
You may be wondering what severe sleep apnea is all about. Severe obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is a sleeping disorder where people experience a blockage of their airways, keeping air from freely moving into a person’s lungs when sleeping. These blockage episodes are referred to as apneas when breathing stops and hypopneas when a person’s breaths are very shallow or infrequent. An Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) calculates the average number of apnea and hypopnea incidents per hour of sleep. An AHI score of 30 or above indicates severe sleep apnea. In severe sleep apnea, these episodes can occur as many as fifty times per hour and each episode can last as long as ten or more seconds, causing people to snore, wake up breathlessly breathing and oftentimes feeling a choking sensation. The effects of sleep apnea go well beyond snoring and restless sleep however. A number of negative side effects take place in the body including elevated blood pressure, low blood oxygen levels, high carbon dioxide levels and a disturbed heart rhythm. The sympathetic nervous system takes a beating as the sufferer struggles to breath and his body tries to compensate. Unless a person or someone close to them recognizes the symptoms of this disease, he / she will continue to suffer not only from loss of sleep but may also be at risk for many medical complications associated with severe sleep apnea such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and even death.
Severe Sleep Apnea Symptoms
There are a several common symptoms regarding severe sleep apnea although it is not always easy to determine, especially if you are trying to self diagnose the condition. Even though their sleep is disrupted, severe sleep apnea sufferers generally don’t recognize their own symptoms because they are not conscious enough during sleep to see them. Here are some signs to look for. People with sleep apnea often snore very loudly. In fact, as they search for stop snoring devices, they often discover the underlying cause of their snoring problem is severe sleep apnea. In addition, their breathing repeatedly pauses for a second or two of silence, often followed by choking type sounds. Sleeping restlessly might suggest that the person is having difficulty breathing. As they struggle to breathe more normally, this can cause a great deal of movement. Other symptoms include frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate, daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, irritability and morning headaches. If some or all of these symptoms seem familiar, you or your loved one needs to see a sleep specialist and be tested for sleep apnea. The only definitive way to diagnose severe sleep apnea is through a sleep study called a Polysomnography.
Causes of Severe Sleep Apnea
Among the leading causes of severe sleep apnea is obesity. Ironically, while obesity can contribute to the exacerbation of sleep apnea symptoms, sleep apnea itself can also cause the sufferer to gain weight. Any way you look at it, weight gain is a no win situation. Therefore, one of the first sleep apnea treatment options is to lose weight. Another common treatment is the use of a sleep apnea machine, especially while weight loss is occurring. Overweight or obese people have a much higher likelihood of experiencing this disorder. Obese individuals that have thick necks (17 inches or larger) are more prone to obstructive sleep apnea since the excess tissue in their neck and nasal passages can constrict, blocking the airways thereby causing sleep apnea. Also at risk are those with smaller jaws as well as those with high blood pressure.
There are other complaints commonly associated with severe sleep apnea. Among these are difficulties in concentration frequently associated with a feeling that sleep was not refreshing. People can experience impotency or reduced sexual drives, large mood swings and heightened irritability. After bouts of severe sleep apnea at night, many sufferers can experience night sweats or wake up with a dry mouth. They are also likely to have severe headaches at mornings, experience heartburn, gain more weight than normal as well as experience changes in personality and/or lapses in memory. Since they are sleep deprived, their intelligence ratio is likely to decrease. They are also likely to experience grogginess upon waking up.
Severe sleep apnea is a very destructive and life- threatening condition. Untreated, the sufferer is at greater risk of heart attack or stroke. Leaving severe sleep apnea untreated can worsen the situation and may eventually lead to death or disability. If you suspect you or a loved one has severe sleep apnea, it is important to see a doctor who can perform the necessary diagnosis so you can receive proper treatment. Severe sleep apnea can be successfully treated.
Severe Sleep Apnea- What It Is and What You Can Do About It 5 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
Sleep Apnea Clinic – What You Need to Know Comment on Severe Sleep Apnea- What It Is and What You Can Do About It
[...] Signs of sleep disruption and any episodes of abnormal breathing will be scrutinized and measured. An Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and a Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) will be calculated. The Apnea-Hypopnea Index measures the average number of apnea (suspended breathing) and hypopnea (very shallow or low number of breaths) events per hour of sleep. The Respiratory Disturbance Index measures other abnormal events (Respiratory Event Related Arousals or RERAs) that disrupt normal sleep and cause a sleeping person to arouse while also measuring the number of apnea and hypopnea events that occur. If you have an AHI score of between 5-15, it indicates you have mild sleep apnea. An AHI score of 15-30 indicates moderate sleep apnea and scores over 30 indicate you have severe sleep apnea. [...]
Serious Sleep Apnea – What It Is And What You’ll Be Able To Do About It | Submit Your Articles – Articles About All Subjects – www.freetousearticles.info Comment on Severe Sleep Apnea- What It Is and What You Can Do About It
[...] could be questioning what serious severe sleep apnea is all about. Serious obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is really a sleeping problem where individuals [...]
Severe Sleep Apnea – What It Really Is And What You Can Do About It Comment on Severe Sleep Apnea- What It Is and What You Can Do About It
[...] could be questioning what severe sleep apnea is all about. Serious obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is a sleeping disorder exactly where [...]
Serious Sleep Apnea – What It Truly Is And What You Can Do About It | Blog Health Comment on Severe Sleep Apnea- What It Is and What You Can Do About It
[...] may be wondering what severe sleep apnea is all about. Serious obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is really a sleeping condition where [...]
Serious Sleep Apnea – What It’s And What You Can Do About It | Article Submission Comment on Severe Sleep Apnea- What It Is and What You Can Do About It
[...] may be questioning what severe obstructive sleep apnea is all about. Serious obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is actually a sleeping condition exactly where [...]
Leave a reply to Severe Sleep Apnea- What It Is and What You Can Do About It