Posts tagged ‘sleep apnea causes’

May 4th, 2011

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Why You Should Understand the Basics

by Angela

In the hurry to know more about the treatment of a condition, most of us lose sight of the rationale of the therapy recommended by the doctor or surgeon. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition often demands such hurry. But unless you understand some of the basics of this horribly distressful sleep disorder, you might find it extremely difficult to fathom as to why the doctor decided to opt for a particular therapy option.

Ignorance is bliss at times, but not when you are faced with a condition like obstructive sleep apnea that not only robs you of sleep night after night, but may have fatal consequences if not treated at the right time with the right therapy.

What is sleep apnea?

This is the first question in your quest for more knowledge about the disorder that you need an answer to. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is characterized by intermittent breathlessness during sleep. A single pause can last for 10 seconds but in an hour, a victim may stop breathing 5 to 30 times. Of the three types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is most common, originating mainly from neglected snoring. It is caused by a collapse and blockage of the upper respiratory tract.

Some of the characteristic sleep apnea symptoms include rapid weight gain, excessive tiredness during the day, chronic depression, serious sleep disturbance, etc. At this juncture you should learn more about two important aspects about sleep apnea: its relationship with body weight and deviated septum.

Sleep apnea and weight gain

Sleep apnea and weight gain enjoy a cause-and-effect relationship that has far-reaching consequences. First or all, apnea affects obese individuals mostly; secondly, weight gain is a prominent symptom of apnea. Additionally, the constant disturbance that sleep apnea creates, invariably affects normal appetite of an individual, particularly two important hormones called Grehlin and Leptin. Resultant imbalance in these hormones also results in weighty gain.

Relief from obstructive sleep apnea is also related to bodyweight in the sense that no treatment for this condition is possible without weight loss.

Deviated septum and sleep apnea

The relationship between deviated septum and sleep apnea is also important as deviated septum is often the root cause behind snoring – which when left untreated, invariably worsens into sleep apnea. The existence of deviated septum and sleep apnea is diagnosed with the help of sleep apnea test, known as polysomnogram examination. The test confirms the initial diagnosis of doctors after reviewing the usual sleep apnea symptoms. This test can reveal the severity of the condition as well as the site of location of the obstruction in the respiratory air passage.

Obstructive sleep apnea: the way out

If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and the root of the condition is significant septal deviation, chances are that none of the tips on how to get better sleep would work for you no matter how hard the doctor tries. Depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor would invariably think surgery and more specifically somnoplasty procedures to treat the condition.

Somnoplasty procedures are FDA-approved surgical methods for treating habitual snoring and sleep apnea. They successfully reset the deviated septum as well as remove and repair excessive tissues blocking the nasal passage.

If you want relief from snoring and sleep apnea symptoms without invasive surgery or noisy CPAP machines, try our dental oral appliance.

About the Author

Marc MacDonald is an independent researcher who has spent considerable time and effort in studying and collating information about health-related concerns, specifically focused on sleep and nutrition.

He has written innumerable research reports on particular subjects like somnoplasty, sleep apnea symptoms, becoming vegan, eating raw food, deviated nasal septum surgery, snoring remedies, and good night sleep techniques.

May 3rd, 2011

Could A CPAP Breathing Machine Aid Your Sleep Apnea?

by Angela

A CPAP breathing machine is really a specialized machine which is utilized by sleep apnea affected individuals to deal with their own sleep apnea symptoms. Keep reading and learn how they may help you.

Sleep apnea is a relatively typical sleep issue. with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), probably the most common of the 3 varieties of the condition. There is the potential for a few significant health challenges with sleep apnea, and deaths have even been caused by the ailment in really serious instances.

The Way A CPAP Breathing Machine Could Help

A CPAP breathing machine is one manner in which sufferers of sleep apnea might get respite from their symptoms, and avert the possibly damaging repercussions of this sleep problem. Applied mostly for serious sufferers, and those with modest to acute sleep apnea, these machines provide you with a positive pressure airflow to the patients lungs during sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea is known as a condition that consists of apnea ‘episodes’ when the patient sleeps. The very soft areas of the throat and soft palate may become over relaxed and partially or totally block the air passage of the sleep apnea sufferer. The sleeper can stop breathing for over ten seconds at a time, and have many ‘episodes’ throughout a single night. The sufferer will quite often gasp as they are partially wakened by the shortage of air. An apnea episode results in physiological arousal and sometimes, a reduction in blood oxygen levels.

These types of episodes are often seen by the patients sleeping partner, but the patient may well have experienced daytime sleepiness as well as fatigue, loss of concentration, with no reason. Raised blood pressure, heart conditions and stroke can all have an increased associated risk for the sleep apnea victim.

You can find a number of reasons why sleep apnea happens, but obesity is just one crucial component. You don’t however, have to be over weight to be affected from sleep apnea, structural elements such as an abnormally narrow airway might be the cause. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) equipment can assist the sufferer, offering helpful ventilation of the airway, and additional piece of mind too.

The CPAP breathing machine helps to keep the air way open, because of the positive air pressure it provides. A cpap device is fully adjustable, and the air pressure, humidity of the air etc, can be adjusted to match the specific demands of the operator. Many cpap systems will sense the pressure levels demanded, and automatically regulate.

When getting cpap machines, you’ll get a mask and cpap tubes along with the machine. The cpap mask can be replaced with a increased quality model when needed, to present additional comfort. CPAP hoses must be checked frequently for signs of wear, and replaced as needed.

There are a range of cpap mask alternative. The cpap full face mask is the extra typical kind, but you’ll find also the nasal mask, and nasal pillow mask. a CPAP nasal mask is basically a half sized mask that just fits over the nose, keeping the mouth no cost. A nasal pillow mask fits just around the nostrils, and is a very good bet for side sleepers. Many individuals prefer these cpap nasal masks as they feel much less confined when wearing them.

Should you think you may have sleep apnea, it can be necessary that you visit your doctor for an examination, appraisal, and possibly, a sleep study. A prescription may possibly be needed for a cpap machine to be issued, but they’re available on line. Some stores even supply employed cpap machines. It can be imperative, however, that you get the right diagnosis just before using cpap.

If you find a CPAP machine does not work for you, try our dental oral appliance and start getting some sleep!

May 2nd, 2011

Cure Sleep Apnea Without CPAP Review – Treat Sleep Apnea Without Using CPAP Devices!

by Angela

Are you suffering from sleep apnea? I know it is hard to find a cure for sleep apnea because I’ve experienced it. I had suffered sleep apnea for such a long time for about 2 years. Day by day, it progresses to a more difficult situation. I can’t breathe properly and my sleep was disrupted. As time went on, I can no longer sleep at all and this affected my entire life. It brought all the negative things, from my family to my career. I’m often stressed up with small matters, irritable and felt exhausted often.

In order to do my job, I would rely on caffeine to stay awake the whole day. Depression made its way and began to look for appropriate treatments and remedies.

A lot of resources offer treatments for sleep apnea but then, most of them didn’t work for me. I’ve been thinking about having surgery but then, I realize that it is so invasive and I’m not that prepared yet. I consulted our family physician and was advised to use a device called CPAP which is a mask that should be worn while sleeping to enable proper breathing. At first, the CPAP device is great, but later on it became much more of a burden. When waking up in the morning, my face is all swollen and painful and it limited my positions while sleeping. I imagined myself wearing this mask for the rest of my life and the thought frightened me.

If you are suffering from sleep apnea and want to get rid of it as soon as possible, then you need to decide now. Check out more about our dental oral appliance.

About the Author

Michelle Pheipher talks about getting healthy and being in the best possible shape. Her personal and (favorite) mottos are “you are what you eat” and “life is short, achieve the best today”.

May 2nd, 2011

Insomnia – How Does it Relate to Snoring or Sleep Apnea?

by Angela

Insomnia is the inability to maintain or initiate sleep and can be attributed to not enough sleep or sleep that is of poor quality with constant interruptions – for instance someone who snores or has sleep apnea. Up to 50% of the population suffers from insomnia at some time or another, however about 10% are plagued with this malady most of the time making it a chronic problem for them.

Insomnia can affect people of all ages but generally it is usually adults and it tends to increase as people age with women more affected than men. Some people experience insomnia for medical reasons or because of stress so that it might be short-lived while others experience it often. Those who have insomnia for more than three weeks are considered chronic cases.

Situations that can bring on insomnia include working alternate shifts like a night shift when they have always worked during the day before. Others might be affected when they are exposed to hot or cold temperatures making their physical discomfort affect their sleep. Other triggers for insomnia could be jet lag or sleeping in an unfamiliar environment. Stress plays a big role if you are going through a divorce or have any life changing events.

Medical conditions, medications, hunger or eating a large meal or taking caffeine prior to bedtime can cause insomnia along with alcohol. Urinary problems that cause frequent urination or other physiological conditions can contribute to insomnia. Restless leg syndrome is another cause as it is difficult to lie still and maintain sleep.

Those who suffer sleep apnea or frequent snoring that causes interruptions throughout the night can cause insomnia because it might constantly wake you up and then prove difficult to return to sleep. It is important to understand the reasons for your insomnia so that you can consult a physician and determine the best solution to handle the problem.

For relief from snoring or sleep apnea symptoms without invasive surgery or noisy CPAP machines, try our dental oral appliance.

Author: David Hernandez

May 2nd, 2011

Should You Have Your Tonsils Removed to Correct Sleep Apnea?

by Angela

A tonsillectomy is a surgery to remove the tonsils. This surgery is often performed if your tonsils are enlarged and are blocking the airways during sleep. It is more often used to treat obstructive sleep apnea in children but it is almost never performed on adults especially if it is just to treat snoring.

For children and young adults who suffer from sleep apnea it is often found that it is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids and is therefore generally recommended as the first way to treat sleep apnea. It is found that more than 75% of these procedures are successful when treating children.

The improvements that are seen after a tonsillectomy are noticeable within six months after the surgery. These improvements include a decline in snoring and other restless sleep. It diminishes the number of colds and coughing that the child experiences as well. In many cases it also reduces hyperactivity and other behavioral problems that were prevalent before the surgery because the child is getting better rest and therefore more sleep.

If a child has other medical conditions like asthma or other respiratory problems those conditions would be treated first before considering the surgery and would be monitored afterwards as well.

The risks of this surgery are generally small if the child has no other medical conditions, but some complications that could occur include excessive bleeding or infection. In most cases the patient will have some difficulty eating and swallowing for a few days after the procedure.

As with any surgery it is important to seek sound medical advice from a physician who understands and works with this type of problem. You should also check with your insurance company to ensure that the procedure is covered as it will most often not be if you only indicate that it has to do with reducing snoring.

Not comfortable with invasive surgery? Want relief from snoring without a noisy CPAP? Try our dental oral appliance.

Do you want to know how to stop snoring? This stop snoring mouthpiece that is an effective snoring remedy and solution to help you stop snoring and sleep at night.

April 29th, 2011

Do You Suffer from Sleep Apnea?

by Angela

Do you wake up in the middle of the night feeling short of breath? Has your partner told you that you snore or stop breathing during the night? If so, you might be experiencing sleep apnea.

During sleep apnea, the airway closes, preventing air getting through. The person actually stops breathing for between 10-120 seconds. At some point, the brain “wakes up” and realizes it isn’t getting oxygen, and tells the airway to open to let air in. This pattern repeats itself throughout the night, and is characterized by loud snoring that sounds like gasping and snorting.

Because the brain keeps waking up, a person with sleep apnea does not have restful sleep, so will feel tired and irritable throughout the day. Lack of sleep hinders concentration and can lead to more accidents on the road or in the workplace.

Sleep apnea can be extremely dangerous, and is usually a symptom of a more serious health problem, such as obesity, heart attack, stroke and hypertension. It is important to see a doctor or sleep specialist immediately if you think you may have sleep apnea.

Treatment of sleep apnea is relatively simple and depends on a person’s circumstances. Treating a medical condition like obesity (by removing weight, which restricts the airway) can cure the sleep apnea. This is usually done via with exercise and a healthy diet, but might also be treated with surgery if the problem is severe.

For other patients, the use of an oral dental appliance worn at night moves the lower jaw down and forward. This helps keep the airway open for ease of breathing.

If you believe you may have sleep apnea, it’s important to see a doctor or sleep expert as soon as possible.

About the Author

The Sleep and Insomnia Guide is a collaboration of authors who are constantly looking out for the latest information to do with insomnia and sleeping disorders. Whilst not experts on the matter they have each been affected by sleep disorders themselves or someone they know has. The Insomnia and Sleep Guide is kept up to date with regular articles as well as submitted for others to share and use.

 

April 28th, 2011

Sleep Apnea Cure with a stop snoring mouth guard – No surgery, No CPAP

by Angela

Many people in America suffer from sleeping disorders. When most people think of sleeping disorders they think of some one who cannot sleep because they cannot stop thinking, or can’t calm their minds down enough to goto sleep, thats insomnia. But imagine not being able to breath for short periods of time while you sleep! When you sleep, your throat relaxes and starts to slide downwards, almost like collapsing, and this is what causes snoring. When it slides to far back and cuts off 80 percent of air flow or if it cuts airflow off altogether, this is called apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by blocking the airway of the throat. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea is a combination of the two. With each apnea, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but this cuts the quality of sleep and you will wake up with an unrefreshed feeling. Many tend to think that the only cure to this disorder is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, but CPAP isnt for every one and can leave you feeling even worse. What I want to show you is how I found the ultimate cure!

Sleep Apnea effects just as many people as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can strike anyone at any age, even children. Because of the lack of awareness by the public many remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, even though it is a serious disorder and can have great consequences.

Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, memory loss, weight gain, chest pains, night sweats and headaches. In most cases, untreated sleep apnea can eventaully result in daily fatigue which can lead to job impairment and car crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.

Why CPAPs are bad for you:

CPAP users come into contact with problems using the machine, some feel worse once they start using the machine. CPAP machines are noisy, difficult to travel with, are cumbersome, and limit sleep positions. The daily cleaning regimen is also unpleasant with all the parts and hoses. You have enough to deal with already! Get rid of the CPAP and try our no snoring mouth guard.

April 15th, 2011

Sleep Deprivation from Snoring or Sleep Apnea

by Angela

People who have the misfortune to snore frequently or have obstructive sleep apnea suffer from sleep deprivation which can affect your daily life as well. The longer that you have the symptoms of sleep apnea the more that you will start to see how it impacts your work or studying in school.

Because you are awakening frequently during the night you are not getting a good night’s rest. Each episode of snoring causes your air flow to be blocked for ten seconds or more causing you to try to catch your breath. This can be repeated for some people hundreds of times during a single night.

Sleep deprivation from snoring or sleep apnea can lead to irritability but more concerning is that it can lead to more serious health concerns. Often depression ensues when you have continued sleep deprivation that leads to a decline in your mental functioning because you have been deprived of not only your sleep but also of oxygen during those frequent snoring episodes.

The loud snoring does not necessarily mean you have sleep apnea but it can certainly lead to that if it continues for long periods of time – over weeks and months instead of once a week. You will experience headaches and daytime drowsiness and can increase chances of a heart attack – especially if you also have other risk factors like smoking, aging, high cholesterol or high blood pressure or diabetes.

If you feel you might have all the classic symptoms of sleep apnea you should seek a physician’s advice to determine the extent of the problem. Sleep deprivation that goes untreated will affect your ability to work effectively or study or listen during classes – making a health problem even more significant if it goes untreated. So don’t delay getting an expert opinion so that you can remedy the situation immediately.

Do you want to know how to stop snoring? Our stop snoring mouthpiece is an effective snoring remedy and solution to help you stop snoring and sleep at night.

April 12th, 2011

Treatment Ideas for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

by Angela

Husbands and wives alike all over the country are all too familiar with the term “snoring” and what it means to have a spouse with the problem.  I think the wife of  snorer said it best, “you try sleeping next to a buzz saw every night”.

Snoring is defined as the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping.  Unfortunately, it is not just a nuisance it is a real medical problem in and of itself, and it could represent a more serious medical problem – obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Statistics on snoring are often all over the place, but at least 30% of adults and perhaps as many as 50% of people in some demographics snore.One survey of 5,713 Italian residents identified habitual snoring in 24% of men and 13.8% of women, rising to 60% of men and 40% of women aged 60 to 65 years; this suggests an increased susceptibility to snoring as age increases.

Not only is snoring common but it has a significant impact on the quality of life for both the snorer and the bed partner – loss of libido, daytime somnolence and irritability, decreased ability to focus on and complete tasks.  Furthermore, habitual snoring has been shown to be related to early onset atherosclerosis with increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

So what can be done about snoring?  First, one needs to see their physician to be evaluated.  The treatment of snoring is complex and requires accurate diagnosis.  This process often starts off with getting a sleep study or polysomnography (PSG).  This will give your doctor the ability to grade the severity of your sleep-disordered breathing.  Once this is done, your doctor can more accurately diagnose not only the severity but potentially why you are having the problem.

Another problem with people that snore is sometimes they refuse to admit their problem, and it can make it extremely tough on the spouse that has to listen to them all night long. There is a much better way to live.

It suffices to say, snoring is a real problem, but there are viable treatment options out there to help.  One should not hesitate to see a doctor that specializes in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/treatment-ideas-for-snoring-and-obstructive-sleep-apnea-4385766.html

April 4th, 2011

Sleep Problems : What Causes Sleep Apnea?

by Angela

Sleep apnea is caused by airways that are being blocked by a tongue that relaxes, and other contributing factors include a person being overweight and a person sleeping on their back. Find out why it’s important to see a general practitioner about sleep apnea with help from a psychologist in this free video on sleep apnea. Bio: Robert B. Hernandez, PsyD, received his doctorate in clinical psychology in 2001. Filmmaker: Paul Muller

For help with your sleep apnea, contact us at NoMoreSnoring.com.

Source: YouTube