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[S549]Sleep Apnea And Weight

by Heather Colman, Hea

Sleep apnea, also referred to as sleep apnoea, is a common sleep disorder. It's characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas, last 10 seconds or more and occur repeatedly throughout the night. People with sleep apnea partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they may not be aware of the disturbances in their sleep.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), caused by relaxation of soft tissue in the back of the throat that blocks the passage of air. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by irregularities in the brain's normal signals to breathe. Some people with sleep apnea have a combination of both types.

OSA is more common in men than women and in people who are overweight or obese. Here are some symptoms to look for if you suspect you are suffering from this disorder.

* Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
* Restless Sleep
* Loud Snoring (With Periods Of Silence Followed By Gasps)
* Falling Asleep During The Day
* Morning Headaches
* Trouble Concentrating
* Irritability
* Forgetfulness
* Mood or Behavior Changes
* Weight Gain
* Increased Heart Rate
* Anxiety
* Depression

Most people with sleep apnea have obstructive apnea "OSA", in which the person stops breathing during sleep due to airway blockage. Breathing is resumed within a few seconds, but periods of as long as sixty seconds are not uncommon in serious cases.

OSA is more common amongst people who snore, who are obese, who consume alcohol, or who have anatomical abnormalities of the jaw or soft palate. However, atypical cases do occur, and the condition should not be ruled out unilaterally merely because the patient does not fit the profile.

"OSA" is caused by the relaxation of the muscles in the airway during sleep. Whilst the vast majority of people successfully maintain an open upper airway and breathe normally during sleep, a significant number of individuals are prone to severe narrowing or occlusion of the pharynx, such that breathing is impeded or even completely obstructed. As the brain senses a build-up of carbon dioxide, airway muscles are activated which open the airway, allowing breathing to resume but interrupting deep sleep.

The prognosis is that sleep apnea left untreated can be life threatening. Excessive daytime sleepiness can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving. Sleep apnea appears to put individuals at risk for stroke. Successful treatment can also reduce the risk of heart and blood pressure problems.

There are many ways to treat sleep apnea from lifestyle changes and alternative remedies to medical regimens and surgical options. All these can seem so confusing to a sleep apnea patient who was just recently diagnosed. Fortunately, you can narrow first line defenses of sleep apnea treatments into ABCs.

Appliances - Oral, That Is

There are oral appliances prescribed by either your doctor or your dentist, which are engineered to keep the throat open especially during sleep. Usually, these are designed to bring your jaw forward, hence, opening your throat.

As such, these oral appliances relieve mild sleep apnea and its number one problem - snoring. You will have to regularly consult with your doctor - at least once every six months - to determine if your oral appliance is a good fit and to reassess your condition.

Take note, however, that oral appliances are not as effective as CPAP therapy to treat sleep apnea. Still, it has its advantages like ease of use and discreet installation so you might want to discuss it more thoroughly with your physician.

Bad Habits, Goodbye

To help treat sleep apnea, you will be asked to adapt lifestyle changes (read: say goodbye to your bad habits). These will include:

* Lose excess weight so as to relieve throat constrictions. Of course, it does help that your double chin is not getting in the way of securely strapping the CPAP mask unto your face. Discuss with your doctor ways to achieve healthy weight loss as you don't want to compound your sleep problems with other health difficulties.

* Avoid alcohol and cigarettes. These bad habits significantly contribute to sleep apnea, not to mention lead to other health problems.

* Abstain from using tranquilizers and sleeping pills. Your throat muscles become relaxed due to these medications, which causes interference with your breathing even when you are on a CPAP machine.

These lifestyle changes alone will not treat sleep apnea, admittedly, but these will contribute to your better health. In turn, you are able to face the challenges of living with the sleep disorder as well as in lessening your risks for heart diseases.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

This is the most important component in the non-surgical options in the treatment of sleep apnea. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine delivers controlled amounts of air pressure through a mask positioned over your nose as you sleep. It helps to keep your airway passages open, hence, preventing sleep apnea as well as snoring.

You may find the CPAP method as the most inconvenient way to treat sleep apnea due to the unwieldy mask and machine. Indeed, it takes some getting used to but it must be done.

Keep in mind that once you stop using the CPAP machine, your symptoms will return and maybe even return with a vengeance. With sleep apnea, you just can't let your guard down because that shaky breath might very well be your last breath on Earth.

This is not to scare you or anything like that. Instead, you must realize that as difficult as it can be, you must treat sleep apnea if you want to enjoy a longer, healthier and happier life.

CPAP Clinic - healthcare at your home
We serve Greater Toronto Area in Canada.
Contact: 1-877-430-CPAP(2727) or info@CPAPClinic.ca

Article Source : Sleep Apnea Effects

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Both Heather Colman & Dhaxel Barqs 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.

Heather Colman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Medicine, Acid Reflux and Other Conditions. This article is Copyright ? 2006, Heather Colman. Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and this entire resource box is included. Find more. Heather Colman's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.

Dhaxel Barqs has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Sleep Apnea. For high quality visit CPAPClinic.ca. They also offer just the right. Dhaxel Barqs's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.