What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Definition
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? The Definition of Obstructive Apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is one of the more common sleep disorders with symptoms of loud snoring and periodic pauses in breathing caused by obstruction of the airway into the lungs unlike Central Sleep Apnea in which the brain's respiratory control centers are imbalanced during sleep. Central sleep apnea can occur in people who have had a stroke, heart failure, brain tumor or infection. Severe obstructive sleep apnea can lead to Sleep Deprivation. Clinically significant levels of sleep apnea are defined as five or more episodes per hour of any type of apnea registered from the polysomnogram. The standard definition of any apneic event includes a minimum 10 second interval between breaths. Alternative Names for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Other names or references to Obstructive Sleep Apnea include: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms
What are the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea? What are the effects? The oxygen levels fall and carbon dioxide levels rise to a level that signals the brain to wake the body up to take a breath which results in gasping for air. The symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea include the following: Mood Changes Waking up often during the night Frequent night time urination Awakening unrefreshed in the morning Headaches in the morning Irritability Anxiety Depression Drowsiness Daytime fatigue Reduction in memory and Reduced mental performance Reduced control Reduced awareness and concentration Negativity Low energy levels Snoring Leg swelling (if severe)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Causes
What are the causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea? The causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea may include the following: Too much stimulation / Caffeine Health Problems and Medications Drugs, Alcohol, Nicotine Obesity Some shapes of the palate and jaw Large neck or collar size Large tongue Large tonsils and adenoids in children Narrow airway Nasal obstruction
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment / Remedies / Medication / Cures
What is used as a treatment, remedy, cure or medication for Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Obstructive Sleep Apnea, including Hypopnea Syndrome, is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a Polysomnogram, or a "sleep study". The following info is not a substitute for a medical assessment or diagnostic procedure, but serves as a useful guide to help focus future discussions. The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment / Remedies / Medication may include the following: A sleep study called a Polysomnogram CPAP is a device used to treat moderate to severe sleep apnea. The machine sends air at a constant, continuous pressure to help keep a person's airway open, allowing the patient to breathe normally., BiPAP is an acronym for bilevel positive airway pressure. It is a portable ventilatory machine that delivers a controlled amount of pressurized air Drugs that stimulate breathing Electrocardiogram (ECG) Echocardiogram Thyroid function studies
The sole purpose of the article on a sleep disorder such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea is to act as a reference guide to provide useful information regarding sleeping problems. It is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea or as a substitute for obtaining professional medical advice. Please remember that if you are in any doubt about your health please consult your medical practitioner immediately. Facts about Sleep Apnea
Some interesting facts about this sleeping disorder are as follows: Fact 1: 18 million Americans have this sleeping disorder OSA Fact 2: 2% of middle-aged women have this sleeping disorder OSA along with excessive daytime sleepiness Fact 3: It has been estimated that up to 50% of patients with the sleeping disorder OSA have high blood pressure Fact 4: 1 in 5 adults has at least mild OSA Fact 5: 1 in 15 adults has OSA of moderate or worse severity Fact 6: Each year, nearly 4% of men and 2% of women over the age of 35 are diagnosed with OSA Fact 7: During an average night’s sleep, an OSA sufferer may experience 60 apneas an hour, or 400 per night
| 
