[O13]Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severe

Sleep apnea is probably the most commonly seen sleep disorder and affects almost 18,000,000 Americans. A sleeping disorder which is characterized by broken breathing during sleep, sleep apnea is also undoubtedly the most dangerous of sleeping disorders because it deprives the brain of crucial oxygen and sometimes proves fatal.

There are two very distinct types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is essentially a neurological disorder in which breathing is broken because of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is essentially a mechanical problem in which the windpipe is obstructed either by excessive tissue or as a result of the unusual relaxation or collapse of muscle tissue around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are effectively the same with regular interruptions to normal breathing that starve the brain of oxygen and place sufferers at greater risk from things like hypertension, stroke and heart attack.

Regrettably, diagnosing sleep apnea can be difficult because snoring, which is a common symptom and often results in sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also often seen as a symptom of many other problems. Snoring is certainly frequently seen with sleep apnea because the brain reacts to a lack of oxygen by awakening the sufferer enough to restart the breathing process and this generally produces snoring.

This regular awakening through the night also results in a poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling more tired than they were when they went to bed. This also results in feelings of sheer exhaustion during the course of the day and an overpowering need to sleep.

However, tiredness resulting from a poor quality of sleep is only part of the problem and a variety of other symptoms will almost certainly be seen including headaches in the morning, poor memory and a difficulty in concentrating.

Without treatment the increasing tiredness resulting from sleep apnea can lead to serious psychological problems starting with simple irritability and moving on to depression with clear changes in mood and behavior.

Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea can be treated and, provided the condition is diagnosed at an early stage, this treatment can often be reasonably easy. For example, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea arising out of nasal congestion can commonly be treated with little more than decongestants. Likewise, a lot of cases of sleep apnea that are not particularly severe can be treated with the use of a mask that is worn during sleep and that provides a constant pressure of air in order to keep the airway open. Finally, in the most severe cases of sleep apnea surgery may be needed and can be extremely effective, though it can also lead to a variety of complications and has to be considered with care.

Probably the most important thing to remember when treating sleep apnea is that because it carries the potential risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to take sleeping pills or to take other types of sleep enhancers without the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies can unquestionably provide an effective complement to prescribed medicines and herbs which are designed to improve the duration and quality of sleep can be of assistance in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness usually accompanying sleep apnea. Also, things like aromatherapy, chromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help to combat the anxiety and insomnia that go along with sleep apnea.