Sleep Apnea FAQ
By: Orbit Medical

The Greek word “apnea“ literally means “without breath.“ There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, stroke, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, nocturia (a need to use the bathroom frequently at night), reflux and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Children with Sleep apnea when untreated show signs and symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, aggressive behavior, irritability, and mood swings associated with pediatric OSA, a mental health provider, such as a child psychiatrist or psychologist, or a neurologist may be the first to recognize the problem. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues. For questions about sleep apnea and treatment see the CPAP FAQ.

Here are some other common questions:

Do only older people get sleep apnea? No, in fact anyone at any age can develop sleep apnea, older patients have more risk factors, yet sleep apnea can affect both males and females of all ages (including children) and any weight.

Can people die from sleep apnea? You can, although it is extremely rare to die directly from sleep apnea most are more likely to have died from the lack of oxygen that sleep apnea causes.

Are there many undiagnosed people with sleep apnea? It is conservatively estimated that at least 12 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, most of whom are undiagnosed.

What are some common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea? Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are: depression, lack of mental focus, fatigue, Excessive daytime sleepiness (i.e., falling asleep easily and sometimes inappropriately), High blood pressure and other cardiovascular complications, Morning headaches, Memory problems, Reflux, Nocturia, Impotence and loud snoring.

Is treatment uncomfortable? There are different treatments available Avoidance of alcohol and medications that relax the airway and/or reduce respiratory drive Weight loss Positional therapy, i.e., avoiding sleeping on the back (for adults), Oral appliances, Surgery (a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy is the most common treatment for pediatric patients),PAP Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP or BiLevel) the most appropriate treatment depends on an individual’s medical history and the severity of the disorder. Advances in technology have allowed CPAP to become much more user friendly. It may take some getting used to so don’t give up keep trying every night for at least one hour. If you still are having problem contact your physician or Orbit Medical and ask for customer service and we will try to help you the best that we can.

Will a CPAP machine keep my partner awake? Again technological advances have brought CPAP and BiLevel therapy a long way. New machines are very quiet and will likely help your partner to get a better nights sleep

Article Source: http://www.ArticleJoe.com

Orbit Medical specializes in the distribution of Durable Medical Equipment (DME). They primarily provide power wheelchairs, in-home oxygen, and sleep therapy products. They help their customers receive these medically necessary products through their insurance benefits.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated