Sleep apnea is a troubling disorder that will affects your sleep as well as having some very negative consequences on your health and well-being. This disorder can affect someone at any age and is considered to be a degenerative condition when. When sleep apnea is left untreated, the condition can become much more serious. There are things that can be done to lower your risk of developing sleep apnea. Those that are high in risk factors are much more prone to develop this very difficult sleep disorder. There are certain methods people can use to keep their risk for sleep apnea down.
Staying or getting into good shape is an important element to reducing your risk for sleep apnea. Fatty tissues in the neck that are a direct result of being obese are the leading cause of sleep apnea. This excess tissue can obstruct the airway by putting weight on the esophagus, which can lead to sleep apnea. It has been determined that having a neck with a circumference of over 17 inches presents a significant risk for contracting sleep apnea.
The use of depressants also increases the risk of developing sleep apnea. Depressants such as alcohol and sleeping pills cause the throat muscles to relax giving way to a possible airway obstruction. Alcohol should be taken no sooner than four hours before bedtime for this reason creating a lower chance of snoring and sleep apnea at bed time.
Smoking can also contribute to developing sleep apnea. Smoking causes increased inflammation in the throat as well as fluid retention in the upper airway. These two conditions can represent a serious airway obstruction.
Some people that experience sleep apnea only do so when lying on their backs at night. A conscious effort to sleep on one's side can be made to help remedy the situation. Many different techniques may be attempted such as sleeping with a pillow behind your back to prevent you from rolling onto your back. Whatever your method is, find one that works for you and stick with it.
Some of the most serious risks for sleep apnea can be reduced by lifestyle changes. Other factors such as old age and a narrow air passage cannot be adapted for and are unavoidable risks. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, get a proper diagnosis from a certified sleep lab and begin to take steps to reduce your risk.
Sleep apnea literally means, "stop breathing during sleep," and that is exactly what happens to thousands of people who are affected by the disorder. Millions more are undiagnosed because their symptoms are simply explained away as tiredness or other factors. If someone has sleep apnea, a neurological problem causes soft tissues to repeatedly block the airway during sleep, causing the sufferer to literally gasp for air.
Symptoms and features of sleep apnea include: (1)Excessive sleepiness during the day, lack of concentration, forgetfulness; (2) High blood pressure; (3) Obesity; (4) Loud snoring, snorting or gasping; (5)Irritability; (6) Depression;(7) Excessive sweating at night; (8) Insomnia or restless sleep; and (9) Confusion upon wakening and morning headaches
Usually a partner recognizes symptoms before the patient, because the person sharing a room is all too aware of the loud snoring, a sudden snort or gasp for air, and constant restlessness. Someone with sleep apnea can actually stop breathing for about 10 seconds at a time, up to 400 times in one night!
Sleep apnea can be attributed to physical features, such as a receding chin or large neck, and external factors, such as use of sleeping pills, obesity, nighttime alcoholic beverages, heartburn and high altitudes.
The facts of sleep apnea are: (1)An estimated 18-25 million people have sleep apnea; (2) Less than one million people realize it; (3) Probably 30-40 million people have some kind of sleep disorder and most are unaware of it; (4) Sleep disorders add 15.9 billion to the total health care bill in the United States; (5) Severe sleep apnea sufferers stop breathing more than 50 times per hour; (6) 10% of men of working age, 2% of women and 3% of children have sleep apnea; (7) Obese children are four times as likely to suffer from sleep apnea than children of average weight; (8) African-American children are 3? times more at risk than children of other races; (9) 56,000 automobile crashes stem annually from driver fatigue; and (10) Drivers with sleep disorders often react slower than drivers slightly above the legal alcohol limit.
You are more at risk if you are: (1) African American; (2) Living in a rural area; (3) Between 40 and 65 years old; (4) A smoker; (5) Drink alcohol at night; and (6) Diabetic.
Consequences: There are serious consequences to ignoring this potentially life-threatening disorder. If untreated, your risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke is higher. The risk of accidents is also increased because if you drive or operate machinery, you may not be as focused as you could be after a restful sleep.
How to diagnose sleep apnea: Most physicians are not trained extensively in sleep disorders and do not usually focus on them. You should be aware of the symptoms, and if you believe you or someone you love may have this problem, contact our office or your physician. A sleep test is usually performed to monitor the extent of the problem. Additionally, a special questionnaire may help determine whether the symptoms indicate sleep apnea.
Relief for the chronic snorer: If you are not diagnosed with sleep apnea, as a habitual snorer you may be able to receive help with an anti-snoring dental device. There are many different devices available to you. This pliable plastic appliance should be carefully fitted by us to ensure it will stay in place while you sleep.
Both Elizabeth Radisson & Minh Nguyen D.d.s. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Elizabeth Radisson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Acid Reflux and Health. About the Author: Elizabeth Radisson is the editor of , a website d. Elizabeth Radisson's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.
Minh Nguyen D.d.s. has sinced written about articles on various topics from . For information, visit ">Cosmetic Dentistry. SoftDental,(. Minh Nguyen D.d.s.'s top article . to your Favourites.