Saturday, February 25, 2012

Sleep Apnea Causes and Symptoms

By Jami Coltharp


The most widespread type of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Obstructive sleep apnea is a "condition characterized by episodes of stopped breathing while sleeping." Sometimes this medical condition is often called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or sleep apnea syndrome.

In most healthy individuals, the muscles engage the throat's upper portion be sure that the flow of air into and your own the lungs is steady and continuous. During sleep during sex relax slightly nonetheless manage carry out their job properly. However those who suffer from sleep apnea have airways which are much narrower and therefore when the muscles relax this leads the airway to partially or completely close up thereby not allowing for that passage of air towards the lungs. Snoring and labored breathing resulting in a sleep apnea episode might be the consequence of this happening. No air can achieve the lungs at all any time a total blockage takes place.

It is not clear to medical examiners and researchers why in certain people their breathing stops all together during periods of deep sleep (or REM sleep). These sleep apnea episodes (often known as apneic events) final for 10-seconds at a some time and upwards a lot more severe cases. These episodes are then the person's awareness that they have got stopped breathing and a find it difficult to regain breath. This try to breathe again often takes the kind of gasping, choking or perhaps snorting. Afterwards particular person usually falls any lighter amount of sleep and the particular pattern may begin over again. The result is a one who suffers from sleep that's fragmented and doesn't permit them the associated with rest they might require on a nightly basis. This can lead to a host of health issues, one among which is excessive daytime tiredness. One with the reasons for any daytime symptoms is the undeniable fact that the oxygen level within the blood stream falls tremendously during an apnea episode. Hypoxia would be the name given to the condition when a person suffers from chronically low associated with oxygen.

It is vital to remember that many individuals who suffer from sleep apnea are unaware of these problem. Often it should be something that should be seen by others and brought to their attention. These individuals are mindful of how excessively tired they may be throughout the daytime however don't necessarily know why.

The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include loud, habitual snoring, awakening within the morning rather than feeling rested, headaches inside the morning, issues with memory and a spotlight span, adjustments to personality, sleeping at inopportune times, high blood pressure, hyperactivity (children only) and swelling of legs in severe cases.

A visit to the doctor and an overall medical history is the initial step to diagnosing sleep apnea in a patient. The doctor in particular will look over the patient's neck, throat and mouth for just about any growths or abnormalities. If sleep apnea is suspected the physician will be sending the patient for a sleep study often called a polysomnogram (or PSG). This test records brain waves, eye movement, breathing rate, muscle activity, heartbeat, oxygen levels within the blood and just how much air will be inhaled and exhaled as the patient sleeps.




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