Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder manifested by abnormal pauses in breathing or periods of abnormally low breathing while sleeping Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from seconds to as long as minutes, and may occur several times during an hour. There are three categories of sleep apnea, known as central (CSA), [...]

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder manifested by abnormal pauses in breathing or periods of abnormally low breathing while sleeping Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from seconds to as long as minutes, and may occur several times during an hour. There are three categories of sleep apnea, known as central (CSA), obstructive (OSA), and mixed sleep apnea. Regardless of  the type of sleep apnea, the afflicted person is almost always not aware of having difficulty breathing, even after they wake up. Sleep apnea symptoms may continue for years, during which time the afflicted individual may suffer daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep deprivation.

Help for Sleep Apnea

Fortunately, there is help available for sleep apnea syndrome. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most commonly-diagnosed form of this ailment. The muscled of the body normally relax during sleep, and the throat walls made of soft tissue can at times obstruct breathing during sleep. With mild and occasional sleep apnea, such as the type many people experience when they have a chest cold is not a big issue. On the other hand, chronic and severe obstructive sleep apnea means that treatment to prevent low blood oxygen (hypoxemia), sleep deprivation, and other complications must be sought.

The risk of OSA rises with increasing body weight, active smoking and age. In addition, patients with diabetes have up to three times the risk of having OSA.
Common symptoms include loud snoring, restless sleep, and sleepiness during waking hours.Some treatments for sleep apnea syndrome involve lifestyle changes, such as muscle relaxants, losing weight, and quitting smoking or drinking alcohol. Changing sleeping positions is also helpful. Some people have seen positive results from oral appliances to keep their airways open during sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has become the most effective treatment for sleep apnea of the obstructive variety. There are also surgical procedures for sleep apnea to remove and tighten throat tissues and open up the airway.

Diet and lifestyle changes can also help sleep apnea sufferers. The benefits of natural foods are that they normally cost a lot less, but even more important is the fact that natural foods are a healthier alternative. There are some nutritional supplements that can help. Keep carb intake under five grams and you’ll be safe. As your heart rate and respiratory rate gradually increase, blood flow is increased to the working muscles carrying oxygen and nutrients. You don’t need to cut alcohol out entirely, but if you reduce your intake of high-fat, high-calorie foods you’ll lose weight faster. Impaired breathing function can be very serious and can end up restricting normal physical activity. Sleep apnea can become a manageable condition provided all the proper precautions are taken.