• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Infinite Longevity

Natural Sleep, Nootropics, and Wellness

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Sleep Disorders
    • Insomnia
    • Sleep Apnea
  • Resources
    • Insomnia Severity Index
  • Contact Page
  • About
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night.

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common condition of the two, occurs when the upper airway passage is partially or completely blocked during sleep. During an apneic episode, the chest muscles and diaphragm have to work harder in order to open the airway. Breathing resumes when a person gasps loudly, body jerks and wakes up. These episodes can reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs, causing heart issues, and in severe cases, even death.

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to signal to the muscles to breathe due to an issue with the respiratory system (the airway remains open). This is usually because of a problem with the central nervous system.

Blocked airway in OSA.png

Who is at risk of getting sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea can affect people of all ages, however, those who are overweight, and exhibit particular physical features (e.g. large tonsils, neck over 16 inches in diameter), as at a greater risk. Men are about twice as likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women. Abnormalities that reduce the diameter of the upper airway, such as nasal obstruction, or a small jaw with an overbite, is also a factor.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

  • Snoring
  • Night sweats
  • Headaches
  • Mood swings (anxiety/depression)
  • Daytime drowsiness/fatigue
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Sudden awakening with a sensation of choking/gasping
  • Difficulty concentrating/forgetfulness

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed by a board-certified sleep medicine physician.  The physician will need to know the details about your symptoms, such as your sleep schedule and habits, if you make snoring or chocking noises in your sleep, how many times you wake up throughout the night, and how you feel in the morning.   They will have to rule out if some other condition may be causing your symptoms, such a mental health disorder, or a reaction to a medication.  The most common diagnostic techniques are:

  • A Home Sleep Apnea Test (or sleep study) – This test allows you to sleep at home as you normally would, wearing equipment that collects information about your breathing while you sleep.  You would have to follow instructions included in the kit in order to set up the testing equipment yourself.   This device measures your breathing and blood oxygen level, heart rate, and how many apnea episodes you have experienced through the night. 
  • In-Lab Sleep Study – also known as a polysomnogram, this test measures your breathing, as well as brain waves and heartbeat while you sleep.  It also records your eye movement, limb movement, and blood oxygen levels.  This test usually performed at a specialized sleeping facility or a hospital.  Usually much more expensive than a home sleep study, this test provides more accurate results, and able to diagnose various parasomnia disorders.

Speak with your doctor to determine which diagnosis tool will better work for you.

How is sleep apnea treated?

There are three treatment options for sleep apnea:

  • Positive airway pressure therapy – CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine delivers constant airflow to people while they sleep.  It is considered the most common and effective treatment for sleep apnea.  However, it is often loud and uncomfortable.  The device has to be calibrated properly and frequently adjusted.  It also requires cleaning and maintenance.  Failure to clean a CPAP mask may result in an upper respiratory infection. 
  • Oral Appliance – A mandibular repositioning device (MRD) is a custom-fitted mouthpiece that holds your jaw in a forward position while you sleep to expand the space behind your tongue. This helps keep your upper airway open, preventing apneas and snoring.  It is a good alterative to the CPAP machine for patients suffering with mild sleep apnea.
  • Surgery – Several surgical procedures and techniques can improve airway obstruction.  This is often reserved for the most extreme cases of sleep apnea. 

Primary Sidebar

FREE E-Book Offer

loader

Subscribe to our list to get the FREE Natural Sleep Hacks E-book

Popular Posts

  • Week
  • Month
  • All Time

Week

  • Why Plastic Surgery Isn’t A Sub For Weight Loss 3 views
  • Sleep Deprivation Could Significantly Lower Life Expectancy 2 views
  • Hypnosis Portion Control Session 2 views
  • What is the Ideal Indoor Humidity? 2 views
  • Resurge Supplement Review – Lose Weight While You Sleep? 2 views
  • Snoring In Kids Leads To Other Health Issues 1 view
  • High Estrogen (Estradiol) Symptoms in Men – And How to Naturally Lower It 1 view
  • Maca Root: The Viagra of Superfoods 1 view
  • Halki Diabetes Remedy Review – Is It Legit or a Scam? 1 view
  • Vertigo and Dizziness Program Review: Will It Stop Your Symptoms? 1 view

Month

  • What is the Ideal Indoor Humidity? 17 views
  • Java Burn Review: Turn Your Coffee into a Powerful Fat Burner 15 views
  • Joy Organics CBD with Melatonin Review: A Perfect Combination for Better Sleep 12 views
  • Why Plastic Surgery Isn’t A Sub For Weight Loss 10 views
  • High Estrogen (Estradiol) Symptoms in Men – And How to Naturally Lower It 8 views
  • Hypnosis Portion Control Session 6 views
  • Snoring In Kids Leads To Other Health Issues 5 views
  • Leptitox Review – Supercharge Your Weigh Loss 5 views
  • Vertigo and Dizziness Program Review: Will It Stop Your Symptoms? 5 views
  • The Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Solution 5 views

All Time

  • Halki Diabetes Remedy Review – Is It Legit or a Scam? 5.6k views
  • Vertigo and Dizziness Program Review: Will It Stop Your Symptoms? 1.3k views
  • High Estrogen (Estradiol) Symptoms in Men – And How to Naturally Lower It 1.3k views
  • Leptitox Review – Supercharge Your Weigh Loss 619 views
  • Detoxil Burn (Review for 2020) 481 views
  • Joy Organics CBD with Melatonin Review: A Perfect Combination for Better Sleep 457 views
  • Function of Thyroid Gland – The Likely Reason You Feel Like Crap 422 views
  • What is the Ideal Indoor Humidity? 414 views
  • The Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Solution 405 views
  • iCold Review – The Ultimate Cooling Device 403 views

Contact

  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Footer

Latest Posts

  • Java Burn Review: Turn Your Coffee into a Powerful Fat Burner
  • Function of Thyroid Gland – The Likely Reason You Feel Like Crap
  • iCold Review – The Ultimate Cooling Device
  • Resurge Supplement Review – Lose Weight While You Sleep?
  • What is the Ideal Indoor Humidity?
  • LiveTemp Pro Review – The Only Thermometer You’ll Ever Need

Contact Me

Please contact me at yuriy@infinitelongevity.com

Find it here

Copyright © 2023 · Daily Dish Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in