Questions About Sleep Apnea and CPAP
May 20, 2010What is sleep apnea?
During sleep, some peoples’ breathing briefly stops many times throughout the night. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapsing and blocking the airway. Central sleep apnea occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person’s nose or mouth through efforts to resume breathing because of confused signals from the brain to the diaphragm.
What causes sleep apnea?
Mechanical and structural problems in the airway interrupt breathing during sleep. The throat muscles and tongue relax too much during sleep, blocking the airway.
Am I at risk for sleep apnea?
This can affect anyone, however, it’s more prevalent in men. Loud snoring, weight problems and high blood pressure are risk signs. If you never feel rested, suffer from being overweight, smoke, or notice behavioral changes, such as depression, see an experienced sleep apnea specialist. Snoring is also a sign of sleep apnea, but isn’t the only indicator.
Does obstructive sleep apnea require surgery?
Oral appliance therapy is an alternative to surgery. Therapeutically, they reposition the lower jaw and tongue to reduce apneic occurrences.
If I use a CPAP do I still need surgery?
By correctly adhering to treatment, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, can be very successful. However, studies also show only 23-45% of patients attain success. CPAP is a commitment, those who think they can’t devote themselves to the program should look into oral appliance therapy. Surgery is a last resort.
For many, CPAP is uncomfortable. Less cumbersome methods use simpler mouthpieces that properly align the jaw for safer sleep. These mouthpieces resemble sports mouth guards and helps patients breathe through the nose and mouth. If CPAP is uncomfortable, look into the alternate treatment options.
Why should I seek treatment for sleep apnea?
Quality sleep is essential to wellness. Sleep apnea creates lack of energy, inhibits concentration and slows metabolism. Even worse, lost sleep increases chances for high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Determining the Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Getting Sleep Apnea Treatment
May 19, 2010Sleep Apnea Symptoms
While Sleeping
- Extremely loud snoring
- Silence due to pauses in breathing
- Gasping
- Choking
- Profuse sweating
- Waking to reset breathing
While Awake
- Depression
- Heartburn
- Mood swings
- Dry mouth upon waking
- Memory lapses
- Migraines
Complications
This condition can develop into an assortment of complications. These complications may prove to be fatal.
These complications include:
1.
Hypertension
- 50% of people who have sleep apnea develop hypertension
- Hypertension or high blood pressure raises the risks of heart failure
2.
Congestive Heart Failure
- Sleep apnea deprives the blood of oxygen
- Increases the risk of congestive heart failure
3.
Chronic Fatigue
- Sleep apnea deprives the body of sleep and fatigue kicks in
- Under fatigue people are less efficient, and are prone to accidents.
Commonly Used Sleep Apnea Treatment
There are a number of treatments available for treating sleep apnea. These treatments keep the airways open, avoiding the symptoms from occurring.
These treatments include:
1.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
- A device that pumps air into the airway
- Keeps the muscles in the airway from over relaxing
2.
Dental Devices
- Keeps the tongue from blocking the airway
3.
Surgery
- When all else fails, surgery to the throat, jaw, and nasal cavity are required to correct the obstruction.
Alternative Treatment
Popular treatments can prove to be costly, requires surgery, and has negative side effects to the body. This is why alternative treatments are gaining popularity.
These alternatives include:
1.
Singing therapy
- Involves a lot of practice to strengthen the airway muscles
2.
Didgeridoo therapy
- Involves blowing on the wind instrument to strengthen the airway muscles.
- Does not require practice to perfect.
3.
Sleep Apnea Pillow
- Specially designed pillow that stops the symptoms
- Promotes the ultimate sleeping comfort.
- Useable in almost all sleeping positions.
For whatever sleep apnea treatment is chosen, the main goal is to avoid the risks to health the condition may lead to. It is important to consult with your doctor, and get to know the treatment that’s best for you.
Revolutionary Sleep Apnea Breakthrough Prevents Upper Airway From Collapsing
March 18, 2010Discover the Natural Cure For Sleep Apnea
February 17, 2010Currently, doctors prescribe treatments for apnea; however, these treatments do not address the source of the problem. Doctors treat the symptoms, which in some cases can be beneficial, but there are natural ways that one can treat apnea. These are treatments that most doctors, for whatever reason, will not prescribe for sleep apnea. Doctors will tell people to do anything from losing weight, stop smoking, and stop drinking alcohol to getting surgery or to buying a CPAP machine. Out of these options, surgery has proven to be somewhat helpful in treating apnea. Changing one’s lifestyle does not help to treat apnea, although in some cases, it can make someone the least bit healthier in other aspects of their life. Nobody really wants to sleep while they are attached to a machine that pushes air up their nose.
There are many herbs that help a person to relax and, in turn, sleep better. A few of these known herbs are the well-known Chamomile and lesser-known Cramp Bark. These allow a person to fall asleep much easier than using a CPAP machine. Two more herbs that help to treat apnea are Lobelia and Thyme. Together, these herbs help a person breath deeper and at a steady rate. As with all things, there is a downside to taking herbal remedies as well. Sometimes, mixing them with prescriptions or with other herbal remedies can result in adverse effects. Also, doctors do not generally recommend herbs in place of prescription medicines, so people are required to do their own research on herbal treatments to find reliable sources. Overall, however, there are fewer (or zero, in many cases) side effects with herbal treatments.
http://natures-herbal-solutions.net/
Stop Snoring Device and Start Sleeping Today With the Best Stop Snoring Device Product
February 17, 2010I once trapped my wife snoring and it made me look at her beautiful look with near shock. I felt disgusted with what I saw and I told her about it. Guess what? I not at all heard the snores after that. Later on she just could not bring herself to like that part of herself, so she did everything within her power to stop snoring device with very easy Ways To Stop Snoring Device. That was twenty years ago. At this time tell me, if it worked for my wife, why shouldn’t it effect for you? To be sincere with my Ways To Stop Snoring Device you what works for me could not work for you, but the superior news is that there are ways to follow to fight the condition to a standstill. Ways to Stop Snoring Device are almost inexhaustible, but their effectiveness largely depends upon different individuals, like I earlier mentioned. What works for you might not work for another with your Ways To Stop Snoring Device, and what you catch easy to do might be a major difficult for someone else. This is why it is important that you understand your own self as finest you can, and with that, run towards stopping the Ways To Stop Snoring Device habit. You must too talk to your doctor whenever you come across any Ways To Stop Snoring Device medications either online or off line. Stop Snoring Device with the best product on the internet. You will learn with John Brooks Product how to prevent to Stop Snoring Device in few weeks. Stop Snoring Device Tip 1: Healthy food Stop Snoring Device Tip 2: Healthy living Stop Snoring Device Tip 3: No Alcohol Stop Snoring Device Tip 4: Loss weight Stop Snoring Device Tip 5: Training every day (Fitness,…)
Click Stop Snoring Device and Sleep Apnea Threatmen for SECRET tips you didn’t know before.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treat Testimonial – Jacksonville Florida
February 17, 2010Sleep Apnea Treatment For Mild, Moderate, and Severe Sufferers
February 16, 2010Treatments for Mild Sleep Apnea
Many people with obstructive sleep apnea will experience only mild symptoms. The obstructions in breathing are due to physical blocks and restrictions in the airway. This is often caused by problems in the throat, or the tongue falling back.
Those who suffer from this form of sleep apnea are advised to make simple lifestyle changes. Excess fat around the neck can restrict the airflow in the throat. Losing even a small weight of 10 pounds can remove the symptoms.
Another lifestyle change prescribed is stopping the intake of central nervous system inhibitors or relaxants. This includes alcohol and certain medicines like pain killers, sleeping aids and the like. They tend to relax the jaw and throat more than usual.
Studies also show that staying off the back during sleep also treats mild sleep apnea. This can be done by using deterrents that prevent the sufferer pain from rolling on their back. Specially designed pillows make it more comfortable for people to sleep on their sides or backs. They typically cradle the head and provide additional space for the arm to be stretched upward.
Treatments for Moderate Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea treatments for moderate cases usually involve devices that help keep the breathing normal during sleep. One of the most popular is the CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It fits over the mouth and nose to provide a constant stream of air. It makes sure that even if the wearer has a restricted passage, the oxygen intake remains steady.
Other CPAP alternatives include mouth guards and head gears. Instead of pushing air in, they try to make sure the passageway is clear. It readjusts the jaw or keeps the tongue from falling into the throat. These devices can be altered according to the wearer’s specifications.
Treatments for Severe Sleep Apnea
For severe cases, sleep apnea treatments become more complicated. A different form of the disorder may cause these symptoms. Central sleep apnea is caused by lapses in the brain. Treatment of this neurological problem may be necessary to remove the problem.
Severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be treated via surgery. Most of these change the position of the mouth and the airway to permanently reduce the probability of restrictions. Examples of surgical procedures for severe sleep apnea include:
The Maxillomandibular Advancement procedure, which moves both the upper and lower jaws forward.
The Hyoid Suspension procedure, which reduces the size of the hyoid bone. This bone is found at the neck, and is attached to the tongue, muscles and soft tissue of the throat.
Uvulapalatopharyngoplasty (UVVV) is performed only when the problem is caused by a collapse in the soft palate. It involves the removal of the uvula and a reduction in the edge of the palate.
The Genioglossus Advancement procedure adjusts and tightens the front tongue tendon and is often performed in tandem with the other sleep apnea surgeries.
Sleep Apnea Treatment -Ted Bohrer
January 28, 2010What You Need To Know About Sleep Apnea Treatment?
January 18, 2010Before diagnosing sleep apnea you must understand what it is. Sleep apnea occurs when someone has completely stopped breathing for 10 seconds or more while they are sleeping. Sometimes these apnea episodes completely wake a person, other times they just bring someone to a shallow level of sleep from a deep level. This interrupted sleep may not be noticed by the person with the sleep apnea, instead it may alert your bed partner. There are two types of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send the signal to breathe to the breathing muscles. This is more common in people with brain injuries or heart diseases. Obstructive sleep apnea means the airway has actually been obstructed by your tongue going backwards or enlarged tonsils. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder. If you have symptoms of sleep apnea your doctor may ask you to have a sleep apnea test done at a sleep disorder center. This test would be done after a physical exam and medical history. People who have sleep apnea in their family history are at a higher risk for sleep apnea themselves. A sleep study (polysomnogram) is a multiple-component test that electronically transmits and records specific physical activities while you are sleeping. In a polysomnogram an EEG is used to record brain wave activity, an EMG records such things as teeth grinding, an EOG to record eye movements which tells the sleep stage you are in, an EKG for your heart rate, a nasal airflow sensor to record airflow, and a snore microphone records your snoring activity. All of these results are then read by a sleep specialist and given to your doctor to determine if you have sleep apnea. If you have a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea you may be able to fix the problem by doing some behavioral changes. These changes include changing your position while sleeping; sometimes apneas occur only in a certain position which is usually lying flat on your back. Obesity is a contributive factor to obstructive sleep apnea. Losing 10% of your body weight would improve your sleep apnea. Some people with sleep apnea find this hard to do because the sleep loss leaves them too tired to exercise; in turn making them gain more weight which worsens the sleep apnea. If the apnea is treated a different way it usually leads to people being able to lose weight since they won’t be as tired.
Posted by Sleepy
