Sleep Apnea

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:06:59 +0000

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 of the 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 include 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.

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Question about sleep apnea.?

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:16:14 +0000

I have moderate obstructive and central sleep apnea. My blood oxygen levels according to sleep study dropped down to 60. I tried the CPAP machine for a couple of months and finally gave up. And I can’t sleep with that dental appliance either. BTW I am tall and very thin, medically I would be considerated underweight.

I am looking to buy a pulse oxyimeter with alarm that would wake me when my oxygen gets too low, like below 80. Do you think this would work? Where is a good place to buy one?
Thanks.

I would think that would wake you up just as much as sleep apnea.

Go to the place that supplied you with your machine and ask them to be fitted for a new mask. They have ton’s of choices and there is bound to be one that will work for you. If you find a nice respiratory therapist who is willing to spend extra time with you, you can find a mask or nose mask that will work right for you.

Good Luck!

I’ve had sleep apnea for years and it took a while to find a working mask.

hmm sleep apnea (yada yada 20 characters)?

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:29:10 +0000

I have been diagnosed with major depression, and I have unrefreshing sleep. Now I know thats more likely to be because of decreased REM sleep but I’m considering what are the chances of it being sleep apnea? like central sleep apnea? Do most people wake up realising they’ve stopped breathing? Do they wake up several times a night? I highly doubt I have it since I don’t doze off randomly during the day or have morning headaches but I’m just wondering.
woops was going to post this in respiratory diseases. oh well

Many people with sleep apnea have absolutely no idea that they have it. You can be waking up hundreds of times through the night because you are not breathing, but be totally unaware this is happening.

If you sleep with someone, your bed partner is more apt to be aware of your sleep apnea than you.

Snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, though not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Best to talk with your doctor about your concerns. He can refer you to have a sleep study done.

All that about apnea, I want to include some other thoughts on depression. Apnea can contribute to depression, but so can countless other things. Excessive stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, lack of social support, and more. Lots of books out there on the subject, but one I find very informative is entitled "Optimum Nutrition for the Mind" by Patrick Holford. It covers many mental ills, including depression. It also gives some very specific and helpful recommendations about diet and supplement support.

My boyfriend(17) has Central Sleep Apnea?

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:46:19 +0000

What does it mean?

Can it kill you or get worse?

Can it be cured?

He is 145 pounds about, and 5’8.

What are his risk?

Does it make a diff. since his only 17?

Help me, Thank You so so Much!!! <3

Central Sleep Apnea is fairly uncommon. I have only seen a few every year or so. it can be treated but usually with Bipap and a set Resp-Rate. His weight really does not matter in this case, because it is a brain malfunction in this case (simple terms) not a soft tissue issue. But if he gets proper treatment for his Sleep Apnea, he might lose some weight because he will be more active during the daytime and not so sleepy.

does having central sleep apnea require special treatment for extractions, root canals and implants?

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:46:13 +0000

i have intensive central sleep apnea and seizures. i have 6 posted veneered front teeth which were done more than 20 years ago. i need those teeth pulled out as well as 5 others, and root canals in 3 others. the extractions will be done by an oral surgeon, implants and root canals by dentist. will special attention need to be used for anesthesia and pain control? is it possible to get them to do it in a hospital? could i get some of it covered by my medical insurance?

It depends on the level of anesthesia you are getting. If you are just doing local and staying awake during the procedure then it will have no effect. If you are going under general anesthesia(getting put to sleep) then you should mention it to your doctor. He may want to do the procedures in a hospital( this is common for medically complex cases). I cant tell you about insurance without even knowing what company/plan you have. Best person to talk to will be the doctors front desk or your insurance company.
@seizures- Are you on medication for your seizures? what kind are they? what sets them off? these are things you need to discuss with your doctor prior to the day of surgery.

Central Sleep Apnea, Any Ideas?

admin — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:03:15 +0000

Since 10 to 15% of people with Apnea have Central Sleep Apnea, I’m looking for like-diagnosed people who are willing to share their stories, cures, what they are doing with their Doctors, if anything. I was diagnosed in 2004 and have never been told it’s a not a curable condition, but surfing the internet tells me about "diaphramatic pacing" and the ability to get well. So far, Doctors have about killed me (no offence), and I find aerobic exercise to be of the most benefit. What do you find?

But it depends on an individual and severity of symptoms. If symptoms are present, treatment is warranted. The decision to treat should be made on an individual basis.

I have heard of several different treatments aimed at central sleep apnea and include positive airway pressure, adaptive servo ventilation (ASV), oxygen, added dead space, and overdrive atrial pacing.
It also depends on age and condition of lungs etc.

Should I be using a BiPAP instead of a CPAP for Sleep Apnea? Please read?

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:55:28 +0000

About 3 years ago I did a sleep study and was found to have Obstructive sleep apnea. My 2nd sleep study about a year later after having surgery for a deviated septum and another surgery to remove my tonsils showed that I was having Central Sleep Apnea issues throughout the night. Not all night but at times. The sleep study tech looked shocked when she saw this. I later found out that Central Sleep Apnea isn’t that common. After the 1st sleep apnea study I was given a CPAP which I was compliant with but didn’t change a thing after more than 2 months of use. Not a thing changed health wise. I tried all the masks, full face, nose only, mouth only. I have about 5 or 6 different types of masks and while some work better than others none have worked. After doing some research I saw that people who aren’t compliant with CPAP or people who have Central Sleep Apnea do A LOT better with a BiPAP. Problem is my insurance doesn’t cover BiPAPs or meds for Central Sleep Apnea only CPAPs. Any suggestions other than getting a different insurance which isn’t possible at this time.

Well I would talk to your sleep doc. If you have CSA, then you certainly need bipap because the cpap does not treat it. My insurance covered it(50%) but it had to go through a process. I choose to by one online as I found it cheaper. Email me and I can geive you more info.

Anyone improve their Sleep Apnea by sitting up when sleeping instead of lying down?

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:30:07 +0000

I’ve had no success using a CPAP for Sleep Apnea. On my last sleep study the tech I had some Central Sleep Apneas which I didn’t have on my sleep study the year before. My sleep doctor wouldn’t give me meds for Central Sleep Apnea or but me on a BiPaP machine because they don’t deal with Central Sleep Apnea. I know when I’m laying down I don’t breathe much but when I’m sitting up it’s fine, I’m wondering if this could carry over into my sleep.
Sorry for spelling errors. Sleep deprivation rears it’s ugly head.

Why don’t you put the head of your bed up on some risers so that you are no longer lying flat and won’t get back problems from sleeping in a recliner. That 6-8 inch incline may be all that you need to be able to breathe easier. Losing weight is your best bet for getting relief from your symptoms and your physician has probably already told you this. Start a walking program – it is the easiest to accomplish – start with short distances at a slow pace and over several weeks, gradually increase your speed and distance until you are walking 30-45 minutes a day at a brisk pace. You should be sweating when you reach the increased speed of walking. If you don’t, you aren’t walking fast enough. You would be surprised how much improved your breathing can become with only a 10 pound weight loss!

Sleep Apnea breathing help?

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:03:18 +0000

My daughter has been diagnosed with "Central Sleep Apnea", meaning she breeths normal when awake, but fails to breeth well when asleep. While sleeping her breething becomse very shallow, not enough to keep her oxygen level up. This causes numbness and eventually awakes her every hour or two.

My question is: Are there breething exercises, or natural ways to cure this condition other than just treating the symptoms with oxygen injection or a positiive pressure air machine. She doesn’t want to live with contraptions hooked to her the rest of her life. Any help would be much appreciated. The doctors we have taken her to only want to treat the symptom, not find the cause.

The cause is neurological, unlike the more common "obstructive" type of sleep apnea. Her brain is just not telling the body to breathe the way it should when she’s asleep. Treating the symptoms is about the best you can do at this point….don’t wanna go messin with the brain!

The other answers on here are talking about the other kind of sleep apnea.

I have Sleep Apnea (both obstructive and central -700-900 episodes a nite) 02/09. I use both an oxygenation(4?

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:39:20 +0000

I have Sleep Apnea (both obstructive and central -700-900 episodes a nite) 02/09. I use both an oxygenation(4.0) and bipap machine. 2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes (taking Metformin 500mg 4 a day). I’m testing my glucose level several times a day to establish a pattern. I’m watching my diet, but my readings are all over the place, anywhere from 178 to HIGH (over 499). understandable since I am testing frequently; after waking, eating, before/after naps, before sleeping,etc. I use the ‘testing solution" occassionally to make sure I’m doing it correctly and to insure the strips and lancets are still OK. I should mention I also have very low testost (Androgel), chronic pain (arthritis & back pain (Oxycontin) acid reflux (Omeprazole) enlarged prostate (terazosin) severe (Suprise!) depression (Fluoxetine)ADHD (Adderall) to top it off – possible contact w/ "Agent Orange" insurance & VA BAD! HELP!!
I’m sorry – the above is soooo long – and now I’m adding to it! LOL – I forgot to mention, I’m a 61 year old male, 5’9" and weigh 158 – so I’m not over weight.

Thanks for any help you are able to offer
Bob

It looks like your main question is related to you high blood sugars even though you are on Metformin for your Type 2 Diabetes. Sometimes it takes weeks to months to regulate your blood sugar with medicines after being diagnosed because medications are started one at a time and dosages are increased slowly over time as well to reach maximum effect without causing side effects or causing your blood sugar to drop too low. Basically, you are at the very beginning of type 2 diabetes treatment so continue to check and chart your blood sugar regularly and continue to eat right and exercise. You should have another doctor’s visit coming up soon so that they can see how you are doing with your high blood sugar. At that time, they could change your diabetes medication or add another one. It is common to need more than one diabetes medication to control high blood sugars. Just continue to take your meds and keep up with recording your blood sugars and they will eventually get you on the right medications with the right dosages to treat your diabetes.
I am also posting a informative website that may help you understand why it can be difficult to find the perfect diabetes medication right at the beginning. It goes over all of the meds.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-treatment/DA00089