Sleep Apnea Cures

Sleep apnea is possibly the most commonly seen sleep disorder and affects about eighteen million Americans. A sleep disorder characterized by broken breathing during sleep, it is also indisputably the most dangerous of sleeping disorders because it deprives the brain of essential oxygen and sometimes proves to be fatal.

There are two entirely separate types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is in effect a neurological disorder where the breathing is broken as a result of signals sent from the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is basically a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by excessive tissue or as a result of the abnormal relaxation or collapse of muscle tissue around the windpipe. In either case however the results are effectively identical with repeated interruptions to the breathing which starve the brain of oxygen and put sufferers at heightened risk from things like high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Unluckily, diagnosing sleep apnea is not always easy as snoring, which is a common symptom and frequently leads to sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also often seen as a symptom of many medical conditions. Snoring is certainly generally seen in cases of sleep apnea as the brain reacts to a drop in oxygen by awakening the sufferer sufficiently to restart the breathing process and this generally results in snoring.

This regular awakening throughout the night also produces a poor overall quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to get up in the morning feeling more tired than they were when they went to bed. This also results in feelings of exhaustion during the day and a tremendous desire to sleep.

But, tiredness arising from poor quality sleep is only one part of the problem and a variety of other symptoms will almost certainly be seen including headaches in the morning, poor memory and a problem in maintaining concentration.

Left untreated the growing exhaustion resulting from sleep apnea may lead to severe psychological problems starting with simple irritability and moving on to depression with noticeable changes in behavior and mood.

Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are treatable and, provided the condition is diagnosed early enough, this treatment is often reasonably easy. For instance, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea caused by nasal congestion can generally be treated with little more than a course of decongestants. In the same way, many cases of sleep apnea which are not particularly severe can be treated using a mask which is worn during sleep and that provides a constant pressure of air in order to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most serious cases surgery may be needed and can be extremely effective, though it may also lead to numerous complications and has to be approached with care.

Possibly the most important thing to remember with sleep apnea is that as it carries with it the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to take sleeping pills or to take other types of artificial sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies certainly provide an effective complement to prescribed medication and herbal remedies which are designed to improve both the duration and quality of sleep may well be of assistance in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness generally brought on by sleep apnea. Likewise, things like aromatherapy, chromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help in reducing the anxiety and insomnia that come with sleep apnea.

Tags: fitness, Health, Sleep, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnia, sleep disorders, sleeping problems, wellness