Sleep Apnea Risks and Treatment - Get the Latest Facts On This Disorder
You've been told by a friend that you may have sleep apnea.
After getting over your initial thoughts of "Sleep...
what!" you've decided to check out some facts about the condition.
Here are the main sleep apnea risks and treatments that are available to you.
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that gets worse as you get older.
At the present time there is no cure for the condition without resorting to surgery, but there are some very effective treatments that can completely remove the symptoms.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea.
Soft tissues at the back of the throat block the passage of air through the airway.
This causes a temporary cessation of breathing.
This may last 10-20 seconds at a time.
These episodes can occur dozens, even hundreds, of times per night.
It is estimated that between 12 and 18 million Americans have the condition.
This makes sleep apnea as common in adults as diabetes.
One of the most common symptoms is snoring but just because you snore doesn't mean that you have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is more likely to occur in men than women, and in people who are overweight or obese.
If you have a family history of the condition it is also a risk factor.
This could be because you inherit a type of anatomy that is prone to airway blockage.
Sleep apnea is correlated with serious coronary complications.
It is a risk factor for stroke.
This is because sufferers tend to have higher blood pressure.
If sleep apnea isn't treated for a long time, your heart can start to fatigue because it has to pump harder to cope with the lack of blood oxygen caused by repeated pauses in breathing.
There are a number of treatments for sleep apnea including physical and mechanical treatments to maintain an open airway or even surgical removal of excess tissue around the upper airway.
Initial recommendations from a doctor often include changes in diet and lifestyle to achieve weight loss.
Some people also find sleeping on their side helps.
The first line of intervention treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is usually continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
This device works by keeping the airways open.
A dentist or orthodontist may be able to recommend a device to modify the position of the tongue or jaw.
Surgery is always an option for patients, but a thorough assessment of your condition should be made before going down this route.
After getting over your initial thoughts of "Sleep...
what!" you've decided to check out some facts about the condition.
Here are the main sleep apnea risks and treatments that are available to you.
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that gets worse as you get older.
At the present time there is no cure for the condition without resorting to surgery, but there are some very effective treatments that can completely remove the symptoms.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea.
Soft tissues at the back of the throat block the passage of air through the airway.
This causes a temporary cessation of breathing.
This may last 10-20 seconds at a time.
These episodes can occur dozens, even hundreds, of times per night.
It is estimated that between 12 and 18 million Americans have the condition.
This makes sleep apnea as common in adults as diabetes.
One of the most common symptoms is snoring but just because you snore doesn't mean that you have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is more likely to occur in men than women, and in people who are overweight or obese.
If you have a family history of the condition it is also a risk factor.
This could be because you inherit a type of anatomy that is prone to airway blockage.
Sleep apnea is correlated with serious coronary complications.
It is a risk factor for stroke.
This is because sufferers tend to have higher blood pressure.
If sleep apnea isn't treated for a long time, your heart can start to fatigue because it has to pump harder to cope with the lack of blood oxygen caused by repeated pauses in breathing.
There are a number of treatments for sleep apnea including physical and mechanical treatments to maintain an open airway or even surgical removal of excess tissue around the upper airway.
Initial recommendations from a doctor often include changes in diet and lifestyle to achieve weight loss.
Some people also find sleeping on their side helps.
The first line of intervention treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is usually continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
This device works by keeping the airways open.
A dentist or orthodontist may be able to recommend a device to modify the position of the tongue or jaw.
Surgery is always an option for patients, but a thorough assessment of your condition should be made before going down this route.
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