Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea consists of three different types: obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive is by far the most common of the three.
Obstructive apnea is when the upper airway becomes blocked by the soft tissue and results in stoppage in breathing. Depending on the severity, it can occur from a few times to more than a hundred times a night. The duration can be a few seconds to over a minute.
Central sleep apnea is completely different in nature than obstructive apnea. CSA is a neurological condition that affects blood oxygen levels. The brain, in basic terms, is sending wrong messages. People with this condition are awakened by a breathing reflex.
The other condition of apnea sometimes referred to as sleep apnia or sleep aponea is mixed. Simply put, it is a combination of obstructive and CSA.
Men tend to be affected more than women but it can occur in anyone. Even children and infants can suffer from this. It is extremely important to watch infants who may have apnea.
How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Often, the first person to realize it is your significant other. They will probably notice your snoring and gasping for air. An obvious sign is being extremely tired during the day.
There are other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy as well. If you feel that you may have the symptoms of sleep deprivation then see your family doctor. Your physician will then recommend you for a sleep study.
A sleep study consists of spending a night at a sleep lab or clinic. You will be fitted with a bunch of wires and sensors that look like something a mad scientist would use but fear not, it is just to monitor your sleep patterns. Data will be recorded while you are sleeping in different positions. The interruption of sleep often will occur while lying on your back. The airway tends to be more obstructed in this position.
Some labs may give you the results immediately but generally you will receive your results in a short time. It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible as sleep lab waiting time can be lengthy.
If you have sleep apnea, your doctor will advise you on the next steps. The two main treatments are: the use of a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) which is a machine that sends air under pressure to you with a mask you wear while sleeping. The other main treatment is surgery. The trimming of the soft palate and the removing of tonsils is the procedure that can be done.
