Sleep apnea is whenever you encounter 1 or a lot more pauses in breathing (apnea) or abnormally low or shallow breathing (hypopnea) although sleeping. These pauses might last for seconds or up to couple of minutes & could occur as few as 5 times to up to 30 times (or a lot more) within the length of one hour. Sleep apnea statistics reveal that roughly 20% adults are victims, however only 10% of these are diagnosed.
Whilst a standard disorder, it often goes undiagnosed due to the insufficient recognizable symptoms. This is 1 of the reasons why most people who endure from sleep apnea do not realize they have this problem. The lack of obvious symptoms & the reality that it occurs only while sleeping, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea could typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea may possibly be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most typical form, is brought on by the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, 1 of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects around 4% of men & 2% of women, with men far more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is a lot more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the much less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This is often present in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or might be on some form of medication. If it is not linked to any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most frequent complaint among people experiencing any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation might also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it may possibly result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea could be discovered by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. An alternative is oximetry which measures the pulse rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are several treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very few undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition could have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
Whilst a standard disorder, it often goes undiagnosed due to the insufficient recognizable symptoms. This is 1 of the reasons why most people who endure from sleep apnea do not realize they have this problem. The lack of obvious symptoms & the reality that it occurs only while sleeping, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea could typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea may possibly be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most typical form, is brought on by the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, 1 of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects around 4% of men & 2% of women, with men far more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is a lot more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the much less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This is often present in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or might be on some form of medication. If it is not linked to any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most frequent complaint among people experiencing any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation might also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it may possibly result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea could be discovered by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. An alternative is oximetry which measures the pulse rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are several treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very few undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition could have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
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This above material is a general introduction to this topic and if you need more information click Sleep Apnea Statistics or you can find further articles on this subject here Sleep Apnea Tests.
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