Sleep is vital to your health and well being. It is supposed to be a restful time, when you feel safe and secure. However, when you have a sleep disorder, not only are you not getting the rest that you need, but you are also potentially risking your health.

Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder. This condition is marked by breathing that is interrupted while a person is sleeping. When breathing is interrupted, the brain, as well as the rest of the body, aren't getting oxygen, with is essential to your health. In severe cases, people who suffer from sleep apnea can stop breathing hundreds of times during a period of sleep. If left untreated, this condition can be very dangerous, and can even be fatal. Fortunately, this sleep disorder can be managed. With proper management, a person who suffers from this condition can get more restful sleep and will limit their risk of harm.

If you think that you or someone you love is suffering from sleep apnea, read on to find out more about this condition.

An Overview of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is classified into two types:

• Central sleep apnea, which happens when the brain doesn't transmit the message to the muscles of the lungs that are used to breathe. This is caused by an instability to the respiratory control center.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the more common form of this disorder. It happens when a blockage occurs in the airway, preventing proper breathing. This blockage usually happens when the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse while a person is sleeping.

Who is Affected Most? There are certain risk factors that will increase your chances of developing sleep apnea. If you are:

• A male
• Overweight
• Over the age of 40
• Have large soft tissue muscles in your throat (tonsils or tongue), or a small jaw bone
• You suffer from gastroesophageal reflu
• You have a neck that is large than 17 inches in diameter
• You have an obstruction in your nasal passages, caused by damage to the sinuses, allergies, or a deviated septum

If any signal, or several of these risk factors apply to you, you may develop sleep apnea at some point in your life.

How does Sleep Apnea Impact a Person's Health? This condition can have a number of adverse effects on a person's health. It can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, depression, as well as problems with the heart (heart palpitations and heart attack). Of course, because of the disruption in sleep, a person can expect to have lower energy levels, and may experience a low performance at school, and at work. This condition can even increase the chances of a car accident.

Signs of Sleep Apnea. There are some very obvious signs associated with this condition. They include:

• Very loud snoring
• Waking up with a dry mouth and a sore throat
• Waking up feeling like you are being choked, or gasping for air
• Restless sleep
• Changes in mood
• Increased feelings of drowsiness

Treatment. There are several treatment options available for this sleep disorder. In mild cases, changing your lifestyle can improve the condition. This can include losing weight, changing positions while sleeping that will improve breathing, avoiding tobacco products, alcohol and sleeping products. In more severe cases, you may need to use a special device while sleeping, called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine. A dental device may also correct the problem. In the worst cases, surgery may be needed.

If you believe you are suffering from this condition, visit http://virginiasurgicalalarts.com/ to learn more.