Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences irregular breathing while sleeping. Per The Jerusalem Post, it could either be shallow or the person may stop breathing during sleep. A number of factors may cause the condition and may even lead to serious health conditions, or worse, death.
While sleep apnea is a serious issue for those affected, the health sector has also advanced as more innovations are introduced that led to treatments being developed.
Two Types of Sleep Apnea
The condition can prevent the body from getting enough oxygen, which causes a person experiencing it to snore or gasp during sleep. It also causes poor quality of sleep that may result in excessive daytime sleepiness. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, there are two types of sleep apnea.
The first type is called obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common type of sleep apnea. It is characterized by a blocked upper airway many times during sleep due to obesity, large tonsils, or changes in hormone levels. The blockage could reduce or completely stops the airflow.
Reduced air space causes snoring, and the person may experience partial or complete awakenings to restore airflow as their body does not get enough oxygen due to an obstructed airway. Breathing disruptions may happen repeatedly during sleep.
The second type is central sleep apnea, which happens when the brain fails to send a message to breathe. Existing health conditions may affect the brain's control of the airway and chest muscles, which results in central sleep apnea.
For people with this kind of condition, their brain stem fails to recognize carbon dioxide levels in the body during sleep and that may lead to repeated episodes of slower and shallower breathing.
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Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea
Multiple factors could lead to developing sleep apnea and factors for obstructive and central sleep apnea are not that different, according to Sleep Foundation.
For obstructive sleep apnea, people ages 60 to 70 are more likely to experience it, and usually, they are men. Also, people with specific anatomical features including a larger tongue and a shorter jaw have higher chances of having the condition. Body weight is also a factor as those with higher BMI have an elevated risk.
Meanwhile, cigarette smoking, hormone abnormalities, sleeping position, family history, nasal congestion, alcohol and medication use, and certain medical conditions can also lead to obstructive sleep apnea.
Central sleep apnea is usually caused by another medical problem, like an infection or injury that affects the brain stem, heart or kidney failure, stroke, and excess production of growth hormone. Studies have also identified age, sex, use of certain drugs, and being at high latitude as other factors for the condition.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Foundation wrote on its website that treatment for sleep apnea is focused on reducing breathing problems to improve sleep quality. One of the treatments discussed is the positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea as it keeps the airway open with pressurized air pumped from a machine through a hose and mask.
Surgery is also an option to remove tissue in the throat and expand the airway. But doctors may also recommend losing weight, getting regular exercise, altering sleep positions, and reducing alcohol consumption. For severe central sleep apnea, it is recommended to solve the underlying health conditions.
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