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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. The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) is the only organization of its kind that is devoted to teaching the public about the disorder of sleep apnea and to helping and supporting those individuals suffering with it. This non-profit organization is "dedicated to reducing injury, disability, and death from sleep apnea and to enhancing the well-being of those affected by this common disorder."
The American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) makes its head office in Washington, DC. This informative, educational organization puts out a newsletter on a bi-monthly basis called "Wake-Up Call: The Wellness Letter for Snoring and Sleep Apnea" that is available to all of its members. Membership in the American Sleep Apnea Association comes complete with an annual subscription and access to plenty of beneficial articles such as "Sleep Apnea in Children", "Sleep Apnea and Anesthesia", "Understanding a Sleep Study", the 'Ask the Doctor' column and the 'Ask the Lawyer' column. Those who join for the first time are sent a medical alert style identification bracelet or ID necklace. Having one of these makes it possible for help to be prompt in the event of a sleep apnea emergency.
This sleep apnea association also encourages its members to become a part of A.W.A.K.E. (short for Alert, Well and Keeping Energetic) Network. This network is responsible for keeping two hundred mutual-help groups in the United States active. Members can request information from the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) about where the closest A.W.A.K.E. group is located. Or for those who are enterprising, you can find out from the ASAA about how to start your own A.W.A.K.E. group to benefit those in your local area. A yearly membership in the American Sleep Apnea Association is twenty-five dollars.
The ASAA also has other sources of material that may be of benefit to its members. They put out a brochure entitled, "What is Sleep Apnea?" which serves to discuss the disease, its symptoms and treatments in great detail. They also have two informative videos. The first is a seventeen minute video that is called "What is Sleep Apnea?" and this video is very simple to understand as it discuss the condition in layman's terms. The second video called "Sleep Apnea: There is an Alternative" is the same length as the other video and this one is geared towards helping those who are put on a CPAP machine as a means of treatment for sleep apnea. Both videos are extremely good at informing and educating patients about their health condition.
One of the biggest advantages of making contact with a group such as the ASAA is to not feel alone with your condition. Joining a support group and receiving printed material from the association allows you to not feel so alone with your situation. You get to reach out and communicate with others who feel the same frustrations, discomforts and concerns that you do. You can share ideas and suggestions and it is quite possible you could make new friends in the process. You may bring ideas to the fore that others have never thought of and you in turn could learn something that could be of great help to you in your day-to-day struggle to cope with sleep apnea.
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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