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Important Sleep Apnea
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A Closer Look at Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form of the sleep disorder, affects an estimated twelve million American citizens every year. Of these, over a half are prone to loud snoring and are also overweight or obese. For reasons...more info on Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, or OSAS, is a very serious disorder that can lead to heart problems, an increased risk of a stroke and more. Only a physician can properly diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs...more info on Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea And Snoring
Of all the snoring related physical ailments, arguably the most severe and ironically least understood is a condition called Sleep Apnea. These two words should be emblazoned in the minds of every snorer, and anyone who lives with or...more info on Sleep Apnea
The Trouble With Snoring and Sleep Apnea
There's no doubt that snoring becomes a real problem when
someone else is around to hear it. However, snorers may face a
more serious issue than an upset partner and a night on the
couch. Snoring can be indicative of a problem that...more info on Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea An Extremely Common and Dangerous Sleep Disorder
The Trouble With Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea
How is Mild to Moderate Sleep Apnea Treated
Effective Snoring Sleep Apnea Treatments
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Sleep Apnea (also called Sleep Apnoea) is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, which force the sufferer to wake up to resume normal breathing, and disrupt and disturb their normal sleep cycle. These episodes, called apneas, usually last from a few seconds up to as long as sixty seconds in severe cases, and may occur repeatedly throughout the night. If you suspect you may be suffering from sleep apnea it is important to schedule a visit with your doctor right away. A physical exam will be the first part of your doctor's visit. He or she will pay special attention to areas that could indicate a problem with sleep apnea. The doctor will carefully examine your nose, mouth and throat for signs of large or swollen tissues. As examples this might include the tonsils, the soft palate which is to be found at "the roof of your mouth in the back of your throat" and the uvula which is the piece of skin that can be found hanging from the middle section of the back of your mouth. As well the doctor will ask you a series of questions regarding your medical history in order to form a framework for the symptoms you are experiencing. In particular your doctor will want to know all your symptoms, when first started, how you sleep throughout the night and whether or your daytime functioning has been impaired as a result of your symptoms.
If sleep apnea is suspected a doctor will often send a patient for a sleep-recording test, which will help more closely what the problem is. This kind of test is usually performed in a sleep laboratory or sleep center, and may or may not be part of a hospital. In some places patients are required to spend the night at a sleep center while the test is being performed while in other cases the sleep-recording test can be done at home. The most routinely administered sleep-recording test is known as a polysomnogram (or abbreviated to PSG). This special test records a number of different functions which include brain waves, muscle activity, eye movement, breathing rate, heart rate, the level of oxygen in the blood and the amount of air that is inhaled and exhaled from the lungs during sleep.
When the sleep test is done, the patient goes to sleep as normally at the sleep center as they do at home. The test will be closely monitored throughout the patient's sleeping hours by the hospital staff present. The next morning after the test has been completed it will be looked over and analyzed by a sleep medicine specialist. The specialist can then make a diagnosis of sleep apnea or not. He or she can also determine whether it is a mild, moderate or severe case and can recommend treatments that would be effective. The PSG will not cause any pain or discomfort to the patient whatsoever.
There are instances in which a PSG test is done in the comfort of a patient's home. In this case the test is a home monitoring test and it can be used in much the same way as the PSG that is administered at a sleep center. The home monitor will record your breathing and how much effort you must put into it, the rate at which air is inhaled and exhaled from your lungs, it will take an accurate reading of your heart rate, and it will note how much oxygen is in your bloodstream. A sleep technician or technologist will need to visit you at home to attach the monitor to your body and you will be required to keep it connected to you for the entire duration of the night. You can go to bed and go to sleep on this night just as you do every night and the next day the technician will even return to your home to retrieve the monitor or you will be instructed to return it to the sleep center or hospital. From that point on the results will be analyzed and a proper diagnosis made.
Written by: Scott Parat
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If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can be life threatening. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving, endangering their lives and the lives of their passengers and those around them.
Sleep apnea also appears to put individuals at risk for stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), also known as "mini-strokes", and is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, gout and high blood pressure.
So, if you or a loved one are suffering from sleep apnea, be sure to see your doctor so that the sleep apnea symptoms can be treated, removed, or reduced before they become life threatening.
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