Understanding and Treating Sleep Apnea
There are different types of sleep apnea, but they all share the common characteristic of someone stopping breathing while they are asleep. The most prevalent type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea and that is the type that we will be exploring in more detail today.
Obstructive sleep apnea is specifically noted by the collapsing of the airways due to relaxed throat muscles. The sufferer will typically snore very loudly and then become silent, before they choke or gasp for air, waking themselves up. During they silent period they are not breathing at all.
The patient then involuntarily wakes themselves up to resume breathing and then falls back asleep. The whole process repeats itself throughout the night, with the sufferer unaware that anything unusual is going on, until they wake up extremely tired the next morning, due to having such a fragmented sleep.
Losing weight can make a big difference in the severity of one’s sleep apnea. This is because excess weight in the neck contributes to the pressure place on the airway. When this is alleviated the extent of the problem can be diminished.
Some people like to have an alcoholic drink before bed, but this should be avoided as much as possible. The effects of the alcohol exacerbate the relaxation of the throat muscles which contributes to sleep apnea. If you have a hard time falling asleep you are well advised to find a different remedy, but OSA sufferers typically can fall asleep very quickly regardless.
Mild sleep apnea can be alleviated by sleeping on your side instead of your back. Sewing a tennis ball into the back of your shirt can act as a reminder while you sleep to not roll onto your back.
Most sleep apnea sufferers are effective cured by utilizing a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and the machine blows air out of a tube which is connected to a mask. The patient wears the mask while they sleep and the air prevents the passage from closing up. It takes some getting used to, but it is worth it.
Be sure to talk to your doctor if you suspect you have sleep apnea. It is not to be taken lightly as sleep apnea sufferers are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. The condition can be successfully treated and the improved quality of life from getting sufficient, uninterrupted sleep is entirely worthwhile.
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