Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects thousands of people every year. Bouts of insomnia, snoring and a feeling of being even more tired when you wake up in the morning than you were when you went to bed, are all signs that indicate you might be one of them. There are also an untold number of side effects that can affect your long term health that have been linked to this disorder, so getting effective treatment for apnea is crucial.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
If you find yourself feeling out of sorts in the morning, chronically fatigued, or unable to concentrate on even the simplest tasks, you may be suffering from one of two distinct forms of apnea. Obstructive apnea literally means that during your sleep, something physical blocks your airway, cutting off needed oxygen for a full and complete rest. This could be enlarged tonsils or your tongue shifting momentarily. The loss of air in apnea only lasts seconds and the snoring occurs when the air flow is restored.
The second kind, central apnea, happens when your brain fails to send the proper signals to continue your breathing. You might think that breathing is automatic, but it really depends on your brain telling you to. This kind of apnea, as well as the obstructive kind, is best diagnosed by undergoing a sleep study. During the study, you will be hooked up to several machines during a night's sleep. What the doctor is looking for are changes in your brain activity, any movements you make during sleep, your heart rate and your breathing patterns, in order to determine whether you have the condition or not.
Treatment
Treatment for apnea is quite simple. Both types can be effectively managed through home sleep therapy using a CPAP mask to ensure that you get the proper amount of oxygen during sleep. This should eliminate the headaches and fatigue you were feeling before the treatment. For mild cases, lifestyle changes can help. Simple measures such as losing weight or changing your sleep habits will improve your rest.
Side effects
Because losing sleep can affect your overall health, over time, ignoring apnea can seriously weaken the body. Not getting the right amount of oxygen during sleep decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood, while allowing the amount of carbon dioxide to increase. Continuously low oxygen levels can lead to a loss in equilibrium, chronic fatigue, and memory loss. Oxygen is required in the blood to aid in healing and in fighting off infections. Long term apnea can compromise your immune system to where it can no longer resist viruses, bacteria and infections, which can lead to more serious complications later on.
Weight gain is one of the more serious complications possible for sufferers of sleep apnea. A lack of energy leads to a lack of caring about getting the right nutrients, the right foods, and exercise is out of the question. Weight gain combined with apnea can make you more at risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart arrhythmias over time, as well. Every single part of your life can be disastrously affected by apnea, and to leave it go untreated is gambling to the nth degree.
Want to know more about the potentially deadly side effects of sleep apnea? Experts at treating this condition like Trinity Primary Care have the answers you need, so call them today. Also check out our new page on Sleep Apnea. Also check out our new page on Sleep Apnea.
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