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Sleep apnea occurs when a person repeatedly ceases to breathe during sleep. Some episodes last as much as a minute and can cause irreparable damage or even death when left undiagnosed.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
a. Obstructive-this is the most common type and is caused by a blockage of the airway when the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses
b. Central-the brain is simply not signaling the muscles to breathe
c. Mixed-this is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea
Symptoms of sleep apnea may include extremely loud snoring, inability to concentrate, extreme fatigue, depression, daytime sleep attacks, morning headaches, extreme irritability and the psychological results of not experiencing true sleep. Longtime sufferers may also experience high blood pressure, heart irregularities, weight gain and problems with impotence. Most at risk for this ailment are overweight males, 40 years of age or older but women and children also experience sleep apnea. Some scientists believe that there may be a link between sleep apnea and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
Treatments for sleep apnea vary. The first step is to be properly diagnosed. A physician may refer a patient to a sleep specialist who will administer various tests to ascertain the nature of the sleep disorder. This is sometimes done in "sleep labs" so that the patient can be under constant observation during sleep.
After a diagnosis for sleep apnea, surgery may be recommented. In this case, the patient may be at added risk from general anesthesia and must be carefully monitored. During surgery, the effects of respiration being suppressed during anesthesia coupled with the episodes of apnea may present a dangerous situation. For a person diagnosed with sleep apnea, medical personnel must always be notified so that proper precautions can be taken. One-day surgeries are not recommended since the patient may require extended monitoring or medical assistance to recover from the anesthesia.
Often, doctors recommend the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) appliance to patients. This machine delivers pressurized air to the nose of the patient to keep airways open during sleep. This air is delivered to the patient through a mask that is worn during sleep. This treatment appliance has been successful reducing or eliminating apnea episodes.
Sleep apnea has been known to cause other psychological and relationship-based problems. The inability to experience true sleep can lead to many undesirable consequences from marriage difficulties to auto accidents caused by sudden sleep attacks and the inability to concentrate.
For those who suspect that sleep apnea may be a problem, a physician should be consulted for a diagnosis. If any serious sleep problems are observed in children, a pediatrician can refer the child to a sleep specialist for a diagnosis.
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