There are many sleep apnea dangers that most people don't know exist. While some people may think of it as common snoring, sleep apnea is something that needs to be taken very seriously. In fact, if left untreated, the sleeping disorder can cause death via congestive heart failure. Sleep apnea, (apnea literally meaning without breath) is something that affects men, women, adults and children. It is characterized by a minimum of 10 second intervals between breaths, which result in either a neurological arousal or a blood oxygen desaturation of at least three or four percent. No group of people is immune from the disastrous consequences of the disorder, which makes it extremely scary. Since it's something at occurs when you sleep, many people who sleep alone don't know that they suffer from it until it's too late.
Some of the sleep apnea dangers that can act as symptoms include loud snoring (with periods of breathlessness immediately followed by gasps for air), morning headaches and esophageal reflux. Because of the lack of sleep that many sleep apnea patients suffer from, there are often side effects that can be just as troubling as the disorder itself. For example, many people who have sleep apnea also experience depression, irritability and anxiety. These three things can combine to really mess with a persons head. Imagine feeling depressed and angry all of the time, not knowing that something like sleep apnea is causing your troubles. Many times the side effects can get treated with pharmaceutical drugs, but these do nothing to combat the apnea itself.
The sleep apnea dangers are literally too numerous to list. If you or a loved one are concerned about having the disorder, it is imperative that you see a doctor immediately to begin treatment. If you don't, the consequences can be severe.
Dangers of Sleep Apnea
The reason why one should be able to recognize a is because it is a potentially life threatening condition. Aside from exhausting the body and retarding your functions, sleep apnea could lead to more serious conditions such as stroke, heart disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease to name just a few.
There are three types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is when the brain fails to signal breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is when the muscles in the air passage collapses or becomes blocked by tissues that prevent air from getting through. The third type is a mix of the two major apnea types. Although they may have their differences, they may share a similar sleep apnea symptom or two.
Symptoms
It is believed that the most common sleep apnea symptom is snoring. This sleep apnea symptom may begin immediately after falling asleep and can grow louder as sleep progresses. It has since been discovered though that sleep apnea may still occur even without this common sleep apnea symptom. It is also possible that one may be a loud snorer without necessarily having an apnea condition.
It is logical to therefore conclude that the cessation of breathing is a more determining sleep apnea symptom. Aside from this obvious sleep apnea symptom, an individual could also gasp and choke while asleep and may eventually wake up dazed and confused. Daytime sleepiness is an insomnia symptom that may also point to a .
Accompanying Conditions
It may also be a good idea to look for a sleep apnea symptom among the conditions caused by apnea itself. A person suffering from this condition could end up being depressed because apnea causes either light sleep or wakefulness that in turn causes tiredness and irritability.
Importance of an Observer
Often times, a person with a doesn't know that he has it himself. After all, a sleeping person cannot know what goes on during sleep. The responsibility of first noticing an apnea condition therefore falls on the shoulders of housemates or bed mates. Once a symptom like cessation of breathing becomes obvious a person who is believed to have apnea should be brought to a specialist for proper diagnosis. Housemates should also take note of personality changes brought about by disturbed sleep.
Treatment
It is believed that surgery may only be 50% successful in treating sleep apnea. It may help though for people who have the condition clearly because of enlarged tissues or tonsils. Surgery is generally a last resort treatment for people with apnea. Other medical procedures and treatments are first attempted before surgery is considered. What is important is to seek for expert advice instead of attempting to solve the condition on your own.
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