Sleep apnea is a common problem that affects many people. Sleep apnea occurs when a person has one or many pauses in breathing or shallow breathing when they sleep. These pauses in breathing last for a few seconds to minutes. This can happen five to about thirty times in an hour. After this happens normal breathing starts up again and the person usually will make a loud snorting or snoring sound.
This condition is a chronic condition that can disrupt ones sleep three or more times a week. Sleep apnea causes one to have poor sleep quality and makes the person very tired during the day. This is one of the leading causes of many becoming tired during the day and running out of energy.
Unfortunately, sleep apnea can go undiagnosed. Doctors cannot usually detect the condition during a routine exam in the office. There is also no type of blood test that can detect this sleep disorder. With that being said, many do not know that they are even suffering from this condition, because it happens when one is sleeping. It is generally a family member, roommate or bed-mate who notices the many signs of sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common types of this sleep disorder. This form of sleep apnea is where the airway of the person is blocked or has collapsed during sleep. This blockage can cause shallow breathing and or pauses in breathing. Loud snoring occurs with this condition when air tries to squeeze past the blockage in the throat.
Sleep apnea does not discriminate. This sleep disorder affects many people of all ages. Sleep apnea in children is also very common, and people who are overweight are more likely to suffer from it. It can cause an increase in the risk of developing high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, diabetes and obesity. The increase of heart failure and irregular heartbeat can occur also.
There are many ways to treat sleep apnea when one is properly diagnosed. Lifestyle changes, surgery, mouthpieces, special pillows, and using a CPAP machine can help with this disorder. Many also find relief with a natural cure for sleep apnea and find this a better choice, especially when faced with wearing a mask that is connected to a CPAP machine. Looking into a new sleep apnea cure instead of the traditional treatments can sometimes be worth it.
