Sleep Apnea Is Both A Common and Potentially Dangerous Sleep Disorder

Sleep apnea is one of the commonest of all sleep disorders and affects almost eighteen million Americans. A sleep disorder that is characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep, sleep apnea is also indisputably the most dangerous of all sleeping disorders as it deprives the brain of critical oxygen and occasionally proves to be fatal.

There are two quite distinct forms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is basically a neurological disorder in which breathing is interrupted as a result of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is basically a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by excessive tissue or by the unusual collapse or relaxation of muscle tissue around the windpipe. In either case however the results are basically the same with numerous interruptions to normal breathing which starve the brain of oxygen and place sufferers at heightened risk from such things as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

Unluckily, diagnosing sleep apnea can be a problem because snoring, which is a common symptom and frequently results in sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also often seen as a symptom of several other medical conditions. Snoring is certainly often present in cases of sleep apnea as the brain reacts to a lack of oxygen by awakening the sufferer enough to restart breathing and this often results in snoring.

This recurrent awakening through the night also causes a poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sufferers to get up in the morning feeling even more tired than when they went to bed. This also leads to a feeling of exhaustion during the day and a great need to sleep.

However, tiredness arising from a poor quality of sleep is merely part of the picture and various other symptoms will also generally be seen including headaches in the morning, forgetfulness and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.

Without treatment the mounting exhaustion resulting from sleep apnea may produce serious psychological difficulties beginning with simple tetchiness and moving on to depression with noticeable changes in mood and behavior.

Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea can be treated and, as long as the problem is caught at an early stage, this treatment can often be relatively simple. For instance, minor cases of obstructive sleep apnea caused by nasal congestion can usually be treated with little more than decongestants. Also, many cases of sleep apnea that are not especially severe can be treated using a mask which is worn during sleep and that provides a constant pressure of air to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most serious cases surgery may be required and can be very effective, although it can also result in a variety of complications and must be approached with care.

Possibly the most important thing to bear in mind when it comes to treating sleep apnea is that because it carries with it the potential risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to take sleeping pills or to use other forms of sleep enhancers without the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies undoubtedly provide an effective complement to medically prescribed medication and herbal remedies which are designed to improve both the quality and duration of sleep can assist in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness usually accompanying sleep apnea. Similarly, things like chromatherapy, aromatherapy and meditation and guided relaxation can help to combat the anxiety and insomnia which come with sleep apnea.