The Trouble with Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Introduction

Sleep Apnea is a typical sleep breathing disorder. The most common characteristic of Sleep Apnea is loud snoring. The physical obstructions in the airways cause interruptions in the breathing process leading to cyclic cessation of breathing. When this happens it is called Sleep Apnea. Since these interruptions affects the functioning of the lungs and the heart and interfere with the supply of oxygen to the body it assumes worrying proportions.

What happens when you have Sleep Apnea?

When there are physical obstructions in the passage of the airways in our body, regular breathing is interrupted. This is caused by either polyps or adenoids in the mouth, nose, the trachea or the wind pipe and may be in the passage to the stomach. When these airways do not have a clear passage for air, the regular and automatic muscular activity that constitutes respiration is threatened. As a result, breathing stops. This condition is called Apnea. Since respiration must go on for us to live, the moment oxygen levels begin to drop in our body systems, the brain sends signals to the concerned muscles to activate the airways come what may. Sleep is then interrupted and air is forced in past the obstructions in the airways causing snoring, increased heart beats and a consequent cessation in the recouping process of sleep.

The most evident and obvious symptom of Sleep Apnea is snoring. This breathing problem results in an inadequate and a poor quality of sleep and consequently the body is not rested properly. The following day, therefore, begins with a dull lingering headache. Continuous and repetitive occurrence of this results in high blood pressure. The patient experiences lethargy and loss of attentiveness and restlessness. Since the capacity of the lungs is not utilized to its optimum the sacs in the lungs lose their elasticity. The patient then begins to experience lung problems which further aggravate the respiration process. Erratic moods, dryness in the throat especially in the early mornings on waking up and regular morning headaches are preludes to more serious respiratory ailments.

Management of the Problem

The symptoms of Sleep Apnea must be detected early so that a correct diagnosis is made. Once this is done, the proper management of this sleep disorder may begin. The first thing to do is to change ones life style so that all the stress in life is reduced or completely removed. This is done with a series of pro active initiatives. Weight reduction is the foremost preventive step to be taken. The problem of Sleep Apnea afflicts obese people more often. The elderly are also prone to these breathing problems because their muscles are beginning to lose their tone. Such patients need to go to bed after an early light supper as heavy and late meals have found to aggravate the Sleep Apnea. Light exercises like walking helps to keep the lungs and airways activated and muscles required in the respiratory process supple. Breathing during sleep is, therefore, uninterrupted and the quality of sleep improves. Serious obstructions of the airways by polyps and adenoids must be surgically removed. Sometimes this makes the patient vulnerable to throat infections and nasal allergies.

Random Sleeping Tip

There are a lot of people who are in a habit of eating large meals before going to bed. This is a very unhealthy practice that these individuals follow because eating large meals that are fatty and greasy can cause you to suffer from heartburn during nighttime and that can break your sleep cycle. Therefore it is really important that you do not eat a large meal just before bedtime and must space it out by about 2 to 3 hours before going to bed so that you do not suffer from indigestion.

Conclusion

Snoring and Sleep Apnea are a commonly occurring sleep disorder which must never be neglected. Detected early and correctly diagnosed properly the malaise can be effectively managed.

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