Sleep Apnea Centers Offer Help To Patients

By Rhea Solomon


The consequences of sleep apnea are potentially serious. The disorder results in a person being unable to sleep without interruption through the night, due to breathing disturbances. Patients suffering from this condition frequently stop breathing multiple times throughout the night. Some people who have participated in clinical trials at sleep apnea centers have discovered that their normal breathing patterns were interrupted more than one-hundred times in an 8 hour period. Fortunately, the disorder can be treated in a variety of ways.

There are two kinds of the disorder, which are referred to as central or obstructive. The latter is the more common, but both have detrimental side effects. The obstructive form of the disorder is characterized by partial or complete blockage in the person's upper airway. Breathing typically resumes with a jerk of one's body or a loud gasping sound. This type of sleep apnea can be the result of various factors, such as obesity, allergies, asthma, a deviated septum, cardiac disease, poor positioning while sleeping, or pulmonary disorders.

With the central form of the condition, the obstruction is not in the person's upper respiratory tract, but rather this type is caused by the brain's failure to signal the appropriate muscles to complete a full respiration. This results in instability in the respiratory system. It is considered a disorder of one's nervous system, although the reason it occurs is not yet known.

Interestingly, statistics show that there are more male patients in this category than there are females. One in every ten women are afflicted with the disorder, while as many as one in four males suffer from the condition. Scientists have not yet determined why this is the case. The condition is especially common in obese persons, and does not typically manifest until one is over the age of forty.

Symptoms of the disorder are often observed by others who live in the household prior to the patient himself or herself realizing that the condition is present. One of the most common symptoms is loud snoring. Couples frequently state that the partner who is afflicted with the disorder jolts awake several times during the night, even though he or she does not realize this is happening.

Numerous devices can be utilized to ensure that those suffering from the disorder obtain a good night sleep. These include devices such as BPAP masks, which are designed to help prevent airway obstructions. However, it is essential to seek medical advice prior to utilizing equipment of this type to treat the disorder.

In some instances, the soft palate can be trimmed or other procedures can be completed to decrease the individual's symptoms. Whether or not these procedures are an option will depend on the person's overall health and the type of the condition from which he or she suffers. Simpler treatments include sleeping in a position that promotes good breathing and losing excess weight.

A lack of oxygen to vital organs and heart rhythm irregularities are 2 of the most serious side effects associated with the condition. This is why seeking evaluation at sleep apnea centers is a good idea for many individuals. Those experiencing this problem on a regular basis should seek the advice of a licensed health care professional as soon as possible.




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