Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder that pauses or slows down breathing for a period of ten seconds or more while a person is sleeping.
In this chronic condition, a person has the tendency of having disrupted sleep for three nights, or sometimes more, in a week.
Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, as it cannot be detected during routine medical and health checkups or even during blood tests.
More often than not, people suffering from this disorder are unaware of it as this disorder occurs while one is sleeping.
Effects of sleep apnea Sleep apnea results in reduced oxygen levels in the blood by 4%.
This oxygen reduction is caused because when breathing stops the oxygen supply in the blood stream and subsequently in the brain also reduces.
Studies show that this disorder creates a number of health issues and also aggravates a number of existing health problems such as: oHigh blood pressure oHeart attacks oMood and emotional disorders oThyroid problems oConcentration problems oExcessive sleepiness Who is at risk? Research shows that men more than women are more likely to develop this sleeping disorder.
Women are more likely to develop this disorder post menopause and only one out of fifty women as against one out of twenty five men, are more susceptible.
This condition is most common amongst people who are: oOverweight oHave smaller nasal passages oHave enlarged adenoids or tonsils oSuffer from a deviated nasal septum or suffer from chronic nasal blockages due to congestion.
Symptoms Some of the symptoms that indicate sleep apnea apart from loud and constant snoring are headaches in the morning, concentration problems, memory lapses, irritability and mood swings accompanied with depression, urgency to urinate at night or itchy and dry throat when first arising.
If you have one or more of these symptoms then chances are that you might be suffering from this condition.
The symptoms of sleep apnea are not very different in children though they are less likely to develop this condition.
Hyperactivity, aggressiveness, wetting the bed, breathing through the mouth during the day could be some of the indicators of this disorder amongst children.
Diagnosis and treatment If you suspect that you are suffering from sleep apnea, then you must visit your medical practitioner immediately.
Diagnosis will be made after studying your family medical history and conducting a number of case specific tests with specialists for nerves, lungs, nose, ears and throat.
Some doctors also encourage meeting a sleep specialist who tries to understand your sleeping patterns and takes note of what happens with your breathing when you sleep.
A Polysomnogram is one of the most effective ways to detect sleep apnea as this test notes brain activity, eye and muscle activity, heart rate, breathing, air amount in your lungs while asleep and the oxygen amount in the blood stream.
This test is done with the help of sensors that are put on a person's face, chest, scalp, limbs and fingers.
The results of this test will then go to a sleep specialist who will decide the severity of your sleep apnea and suggest a treatment.