Sleep apnea is one of the commonest of all sleep disorders and affects around 18,000,000 Americans. A sleeping disorder characterized by broken breathing during sleep, it is also unquestionably the most dangerous of all sleeping disorders as it starves the brain of vital oxygen and sometimes proves to be fatal.
There are two very different forms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is in effect a neurological condition where the breathing is broken as a result of signals sent out by the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is in effect a mechanical problem where the windpipe is blocked either by excessive tissue or by the abnormal collapse or relaxation of the muscles in and around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are effectively identical with repeated interruptions to the breathing that starve the brain of oxygen and put the sufferer at heightened risk from such things as hypertension, stroke and heart attack.
Unluckily, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove to be a problem as snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and often leads to sleep apnea being known as the snoring disease, is also present as a symptom of various other conditions. Snoring is frequently seen with sleep apnea as the brain counters a lack of oxygen by waking the sufferer enough to restart breathing and this generally gives rise to snoring.
This frequent awakening during the night also results in a poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling more tired than when they went to bed. This also causes feelings of exhaustion during the course of the day and an overwhelming need to sleep.
However, tiredness resulting from a poor quality of sleep is only one part of the picture and various other symptoms will almost certainly be seen including morning headaches, a lack of memory and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.
Left untreated the accumulating exhaustion resulting from sleep apnea can lead to significant psychological difficulties beginning with simple touchiness and moving on to depression with noticeable changes in mood and behavior.
Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are treatable and, provided the condition is caught at an early stage, this treatment can often be reasonably easy. For instance, minor cases of obstructive sleep apnea arising out of nasal congestion can commonly be treated with nothing more than a course of decongestants. Also, many cases of sleep apnea that are not particularly serious can be treated with the use of a mask that is worn during sleep and that provides air at a constant pressure to keep the airway open. Finally, in the most serious cases surgery may be required and can be extremely effective, although it may also lead to some complications and has to be approached with caution.
Probably the most important thing to bear in mind with sleep apnea is that because it carries the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to use sleeping pills or to use other forms of sleep enhancers without the approval of a doctor.
Natural sleep remedies can undoubtedly provide an effective complement to prescribed medication and herbs which are designed to improve the quality and duration of sleep can be helpful in the management of the excessive daytime sleepiness often accompanying sleep apnea. Likewise, such things as chromatherapy, aromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help to reduce the anxiety and insomnia that come with sleep apnea.
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