Sleep apnea is probably the commonest of all sleep disorders and affects in the region of 18 million Americans. A sleeping disorder that is characterized by broken breathing during sleep, it is also undeniably the most dangerous of sleeping disorders as it starves the brain of critical oxygen and can sometimes prove to be fatal.
There are two entirely distinct types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is in essence a neurological disorder where the breathing is broken because of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is basically a mechanical problem in which the windpipe is blocked either by excessive tissue or by the abnormal collapse or relaxation of the muscles around the windpipe. In either case however the results are essentially identical with regular interruptions to normal breathing that deprive the brain of oxygen and place the sufferer at greater risk from such things as hypertension, stroke and heart attack.
Unfortunately, diagnosing sleep apnea can be difficult as snoring, which is a common symptom and often leads to sleep apnea being called the snoring disease, is also commonly seen as a symptom of numerous other medical problems. Snoring is certainly usually seen in cases of sleep apnea as the brain counters a drop in oxygen by awakening the sufferer sufficiently to restart breathing and this generally results in snoring.
This frequent awakening throughout the night also produces a poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sufferers to get up in the morning feeling even more tired than when they got into bed. This also produces a feeling of sheer exhaustion during the day and a great need to sleep.
However, tiredness arising from a poor quality of sleep is just one part of the problem and a variety of other symptoms will also generally be seen including morning headaches, a lack of memory and a problem in maintaining concentration.
Left untreated the increasing tiredness resulting from sleep apnea can cause major psychological difficulties starting with touchiness and progressing to depression with noticeable changes in both mood and behavior.
Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea can be treated and, provided the problem is caught at an early stage, this treatment can often be reasonably simple. For example, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can commonly be treated with nothing more than a course of decongestants. In the same way, a lot of cases of sleep apnea which are not too serious may be treated with the use of a mask which is worn during sleep and that provides a constant pressure of air to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most severe cases of sleep apnea surgery might be necessary and can be very effective, though it could also produce several complications and must be approached carefully.
Perhaps the most important thing to bear in mind when treating sleep apnea is that because it carries the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to use sleeping pills or to use other forms of artificial sleep enhancers without the approval of their doctor.
Natural sleep remedies can certainly complement prescribed medication and herbs which are intended to improve both the duration and quality of sleep may be helpful in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness often accompanying sleep apnea. Also, things like chromatherapy, aromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation will help in reducing the insomnia and anxiety that come with sleep apnea.
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