Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder usually occurs when breathing of a person is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated apnea commonly experience interrupted breathing during sleep. In this condition, the brain and the body may not get enough oxygen.
Usually, there are two types of Sleep apnea
- Obstructive Sleep apnea – more common than other forms of apnea, caused due to the blockage of the airways
- Central Sleep apnea – unlike obstructive sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to send the signals to the muscles to breathe
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome – usually occurs, when a person has both obstructive and central sleep apnea
Table of Contents
Symptoms
The symptoms and signs of obstructive and central sleep apnea may overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have. The most common signs of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- A morning headache
- Irritability
- Difficulty while paying attention
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Awakening with a dry mouth
Complication
Sleep apnea is a severe medical condition.
- Daytime fatigue – The repeated awakenings due to sleep apnea make normal life hard with daytime doziness.
- High blood pressure – Sudden drop in oxygen level in blood, Obstructive sleep apnea increase the risks of heart attack, stroke and abnormal heart attack.
- Types 2 diabetes – Having sleep apnea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance
- Metabolic Syndrome – This disorder which includes high blood pressure, increased waist circumference is linked to a higher risk of heart
- The complication with medication and surgery – People who have sleep apnea faces difficulties after major surgeries because they are prone to breathing problems, especially when lying on back.
- Liver problems – People with sleep apnea are more likely to have abnormal results on liver function tests, and their liver is more likely to show signs of scarring.
- Sleep-deprived partners – Loud snoring can make your partner disturb who sleep near you
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
If you have milder symptoms of apnea, the doctor may recommend you only lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight. If you have nasal allergies, the doctor may prescribe you the recommended treatment for allergies.
Therapies
Continue Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP)
If you have severe apnea, you might benefit by using a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask while sleeping. With CPAP, the air pressure is a bit increased than the pressure of the surrounding air.
CPAP is the most reliable and most common method of treating sleep apnea. Some people find it difficult and uncomfortable. However, you can try different masks to obtain a comfortable and secure fit. You can also consult with a doctor to see what changes can be made to increase your comfort.
Lifestyle and home remedies
In some cases on an earlier stage, you can treat apnea by just changing the lifestyle.
- Exercise
- Regular exercise can ease the symptoms of sleep apnea. Try at least 30 minutes of moderate activity.
- Avoid intake of alcohol and other medication, avoiding this can relax the muscles in the throat.
- Sleep on your side rather than on your back
- Avoid smoking
- Medication
Use medication to relax your muscles of throat and lungs. You can also buy codeine online without the prescription of a doctor.
