Living with Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder. Patients suffering from sleep apnea often stop and restart breathing hundreds of times throughout the night. Patients suffer from a variety of symptoms, including unrefreshing sleep, morning headaches, dry mouth, insomnia, attention troubles and more. If sleep apnea is left untreated, it can sometimes lead to fatal diseases. These included diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. An increased risk of automobile accidents is also reported in those suffering from undiagnosed sleep apnea.

When breathing stops, the oxygen levels in the blood stream also drops,causing the brain to respond by trying to wake you up so you start breathing again. Oftentimes, you will either gasp or make a choking sound as you try to take another breath. Most people do not remember waking because the body will only wake up enough to tighten the throat muscles and begin breathing again.

There are a number of approaches to deal with sleep related illnesses.  Try high quality Ortho Molecular supplements such as Melatonin that can help with regulating sleep cycles in individuals with irregular sleep patterns.

Risk Factors

There are many risk factors associated with sleep apnea. Males are more likely to develop sleep apnea than females. If you have a family member with sleep apnea, you are more likely to develop it. Those who are black, Pacific Islander or Hispanic have an increased risk of developing sleep apnea. Being overweight or over the age of 65 also increases the risk for developing sleep apnea. 

Researchers believe that the inflammation and fluid retention caused by cigarette smoking may increase the risk. Additionally, smokers often have a lower oxygen levels than nonsmokers. To lower the risk of developing sleep apnea, stop smoking and see your doctor.

Studies have stated that as many as a quarter of children diagnosed with hyperactivity may actually have sleep apnea. Many times, learning difficulties and behavior problems stem from fragmented sleep. Additionally, slow growth, hormonal problems and metabolic problems in children have been reported in children suffering from sleep apnea.

Equipment

A positive airway pressure machine or PAP machine is the most common treatment option for sleep apnea sufferers. The PAP machine pushes air into the airway passages to help prevent apneas from occurring. The PAP machine connects to a mask worn over the mouth or nose via a flexible tube. Air is then forced through the tube into the airway. 

Those suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea who cannot tolerate a PAP machine may benefit from additional therapies including oral appliances and surgery. Oral appliances work by shifting the jaw forward to help prevent the soft issues and the tongue from collapsing during sleep. Surgical options help to restore the throats natural tautness so that breathing does not stop during sleep. Oral appliances are less invasive; however, they require an instrument to be placed into the mouth at bedtime. Surgery, although more invasive, firms up muscles and allows you to sleep soundly without needing an oral appliance. 

People suffering from sleep apnea often experience troublesome sleep, which can result in daytime sleepiness, learning difficulties and fatigue. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause weight gain, memory problems, headaches, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Checkout the high quality Ortho Molecular supplements to get relief from sleep related issues.