Print Article for : Sleep Apnea And Depression

Your Online Guide » Common Illness » Sleep Apnea

[S548]Sleep Apnea And Depression

by Sandy Tonsing, San

Sleep disorder has become a common complaint nowadays. With the complexities of life increasing, problems in sleep have started creeping in. Along with inability to get sleep which is medically termed as insomnia, sleep apnea is also getting common nowadays. Apnea is referred to problems faced in breathing while sleeping. Apnea is a very dangerous disorder owing to the fact that there occur pauses while sleeping in case of apnea and these pauses can get quite fatal if they last for a longer duration. Though the disease was originally common in people who are of an advanced age today it has become quite prevalent even in the younger generation.

Apnea in itself is quite a serious illness. When coupled with certain other illnesses or health conditions it can actually be disastrous. The list of causes pertaining to apnea is almost endless. Mental botherations along with other physical conditions are responsible for sleep apnea. In such cases if a person is an addict things tend to get worse. The physical condition of a person who is both an addict, especially that of smoking and is also suffering from sleep apnea deteriorates at a rapid rate. There are high chances that he or she might be suffering from serious cardio vascular diseases if the symptoms of sleep apnea and smoking are seen together. Cardio vascular diseases are far more common in people who are patients of severe apnea and addicts of smoking than the ones who are not suffering either of these conditions.

Any addiction especially smoking is very detrimental to having good sleep at nights. Smoking is also proved to have really bad effects on the heart. Problems in breathing which is one of the main characteristics of apnea is also caused by smoking. Therefore, smoking is responsible for both complicating the conditions of apnea and at the same time hampering the smooth workings of the heart. It is only natural that when these three conditions come together, they spell doom for the person concerned.

Breathing is a function that is controlled by the heart. Hence both these problems are very much connected and common when a person starts aging. A considerable percentage of the senior citizens survive the co existence of both these problems in their anatomy. On top of that if a person smokes his condition only declines from bad to worse and from worse to worst.

If a smoker suffering sleep apnea and cardiovascular problems wishes to bid farewell to his addiction he can take the help of under the supervision of his doctor because can attack a person who is having heart related troubles. That is why Pfizer has tagged chantix as a prescription drug and so if you want to you need to get the prescription first.

Sleep apnea (apnea coming from the Greek for ?without breath?) is a life threatening disorder involving frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. If left undiagnosed and untreated, sleep apnea can have serious consequences. Fortunately, several machines and devices are available for both diagnoses and treatment.

Sleep apnea equipment for diagnosing the disorder is those associated with the sleep studies required to delineate the type and severity of the disorder. The patient undergoes an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram. During this test, the patient's brain waves are read via EEG electroencephalogram, to measure neurological arousal shifts. Other sleep apnea equipment measures blood oxygen desaturation. A 3-second or greater shift in EEG, or a 3-4 percent desaturation of blood oxygen is a reliable indicator for sleep apnea.

Once diagnosed, several different types of treatments are available. The most common therapeutic intervention uses sleep apnea equipment known generically as CPAPs, or continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP come in three main varieties, the CPAPs themselves and VPAP, variable positive airway pressure, and APAP, automatic positive airway pressure. This sleep apnea equipment consists of a medical pump about the size of a shoebox, a long flexible tube and a mask to be worn over the face, over the nose, either over the mouth, or over both.

Certain features of sleep apnea equipment can increase patient comfort, and verify effectiveness of treatment. Ramps are a piece of sleep apnea equipment that allows the patient to begin the night's sleep at a lower pressure and ?ramp? it up later. Heated humidifiers provide warm, moist air, easing breathing. Compliance motors measure if the patient is experiencing any apnea events while using the sleep apnea equipment. Other features of sleep apnea equipment include telephone modems to download data and gauges to monitor patient intake, to adjust pressurized accordingly.

Of all the sleep apnea equipment listed, the mask is perhaps the most important to effectiveness of treatment. Masks come in several types and must not only fit securely, but also must fit comfortably for the patient to continue treatment. When securing sleep apnea equipment for treatment, the mask should be fitted, possibly rented and used for a few nights to test comfort and efficacy.

Included in sleep apnea equipment are several less invasive items. A special pillow holds the sleeper's head in a cradle, in a position to tilt the head back and extend the neck, easing breathing. Other sleep apnea equipment includes an inflatable back cushion, which discourages the patient from sleeping on his/her back. Oral devices, much like a mouth guard worn in sports, hold the tongue forward to prevent blockage of the airway.

Article Source : Pg. 4

About Author

Both Sandy Tonsing & Tom Houser 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.

Sandy Tonsing has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Quit Smoking and How to Use Facebook. The author is a health expert and writes articles on various issues related to the causes as well as consequences of smoking and also on the quit smoking medicine. Sandy Tonsing's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Tom Houser has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Bankruptcy Law and Education. Do you suffer from sleep apnea? Visit for advice and resources on sleep apnea. Thomas D. Houser. Tom Houser's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.