Sleep Apnea
September 1st, 2009
Sleep Apnea or Sleep Apnoea (depending on where you live) is a common disorder nearly as common as adult diabetes with the most common and usually most severe sleep apnea condition being known as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA for short.
It is thought that one in twenty-five middle-aged men and one in every fifty middle-aged women may have Sleep Apnea and of these less than half are likely to have been diagnosed. Sleep apnea diagnosis usually depends on other persons observations of the sufferer and the recognition of the sleep apnea symptoms, particularly sleep apnea snoring and cessations in breathing while asleep, as most sufferers may not even be aware that they have the condition.
With the American Sleep Foundation reporting that sleep deprivation, not cancer or coronary illness, now constitutes the number one killer in the Western World, Sleep Apnea is fast becoming a major issue for western society.
There are three types of Sleep Apnea, these being.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea where the airway collapses or becomes blocked and restricts breathing, and is the most common form of Sleep Apnea .
- Central Sleep Apnea is the less common form of Sleep Apnea and is where the brain fails to tell the body to breath and
- Mixed Apnea which is a combination of both Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Untreated Sleep Apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity and diabetes. The broken sleep pattern that comes with Sleep Apnea also leads to increased tiredness and decreased awareness in waking hours, with some sufferers experiencing periods of momentary sleep events at times throughout the day.
The sleep apnea treatment method adopted will depend on the severity ot he condition and the physical condition of the patient and in most cases involves the ongoing use of a CPAP or Continuous Positive Air Pressure machine, but can also inclue the use of physical devices such as Mandibular Advancement Devices (or MAD's) or in some cases sleep apnea surgery.
Sleep Apnea is normally something that develops over a period of time and as such is usually not noticed as a problem, with most people putting the symptoms down to just being part of “growing older”; this is not necessarily the case.
There are no blood or other post event tests for determining Sleep Apnea , and as such Sleep Apnea is normally diagnosed as a result of comments or complaints from sleeping partners or family who have noticed the gaps in breathing or the excessive snoring.
Sleep Apnea can be treated or managed once diagnosed. The risks to your health associated with failing to act on sleep apnea are significant and Sleep Apnea should not be taken lightly. If you have any of the symptoms or are told by your partner that you do, then you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea, take action now, get yourself assessed, it could save a life, yours.
Introducing RemZzzs, the product that virtually eliminates many of the most common problems associated with wearing a CPAP mask. RemZzzs CPAP mask liners are a soft, absorbent barrier between mask and skin which help to greatly reduce or eliminate skin irritation and mask leaks.
These scenes of Saigon and the C-130 crew Merlin hotel were taken during the second half of 1968 into 1969 when I was serving as a C-130B copilot flying out of TSN, Vietnam. The music is Hat Tren Nhung Xac Nguoi (Singing above The Dead Bodies) sung by Khanh Ly, Thanks to Huan Pham for providing this translation:
Donnie Springer, RRT, with ProTech Medical discusses the process of sleep screening, equipment, and expectations. Donnie has over 15 years experience in CPAP therapy compliance. If you’re in Middle Tennessee, call 1-800-722-7313 to schedule a free consultation with Donnie regarding your CPAP equipment or supplies. www.protechdelivers.com
Take the Sleep Apnea Test Today at http://www.mysleeptest.com.
Act One – Awareness The main character realizes there is something wrong.
Sheila Kun
