Sleep apnea is perhaps the most commonly seen of all sleep disorders and affects in the region of 18,000,000 people in the US. A sleeping disorder characterized by broken breathing while sleeping, it is also without question the most dangerous of all sleeping disorders as it starves the brain of essential oxygen and occasionally proves fatal.
There are two entirely separate forms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is essentially a neurological condition where the breathing is broken because of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is essentially a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by too much tissue or as a result of the abnormal collapse or relaxation of muscle tissue in and around the windpipe. In either case however the results are essentially the same with numerous interruptions to the breathing that starve the brain of oxygen and place the sufferer at heightened risk from things like hypertension, stroke and heart attack.
Regrettably, diagnosing sleep apnea is not always easy as snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and frequently leads to sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also often seen as a symptom of numerous other conditions. Snoring is certainly often seen with sleep apnea as the brain counters a lack of oxygen by awakening the sufferer sufficiently to restart the breathing process and this often produces snoring.
This regular awakening during the night also produces a very poor quality of sleep and it is quite common for sufferers to get up in the morning feeling more tired than when they got into bed. This also leads to a feeling of exhaustion during the course of the day and a tremendous need to sleep.
However, tiredness arising from poor quality sleep is only part of the problem and a range of other symptoms will normally be seen including morning headaches, a lack of memory and a problem in maintaining concentration.
Left untreated the growing exhaustion from sleep apnea may lead to serious psychological problems beginning with touchiness and moving on to depression with obvious changes in mood and behavior.
Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are treatable and, provided the condition is caught at an early stage, this treatment can often be quite simple. For example, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can normally be treated with nothing more than decongestants. In the same way, many cases of sleep apnea that are not particularly serious may be treated with the use of a mask that is worn while sleeping and that delivers air at a constant pressure in order to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most serious cases of sleep apnea surgery might be necessary and can be extremely effective, though it could also lead to some complications and needs to be considered with caution.
Probably the most important thing to remember when treating sleep apnea is that as it carries with it the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to take sleeping pills or to use other forms of artificial sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of their doctor.
Natural sleep remedies can certainly complement prescribed medication and herbal remedies that are intended to improve the quality and duration of sleep may well be of assistance in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness frequently accompanying sleep apnea. In the same way, things like chromatherapy, aromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help in reducing the anxiety and insomnia that go along with sleep apnea.
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