Sleep Apnea Represents An Extremely Commonly Seen and Potentially Fatal Sleeping Disorder

Sleep apnea is perhaps the commonest of all sleep disorders and affects around 18,000,000 people in the US. A sleep disorder characterized by broken breathing while sleeping, sleep apnea is also without question the most dangerous of sleeping disorders as it starves the brain of essential oxygen and sometimes proves fatal.

There are two quite different forms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is basically a neurological disorder in which breathing is broken as a result of signals sent out by the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is essentially a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by too much tissue or by the unusual collapse or relaxation of muscle tissue around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are effectively identical with frequent interruptions to the breathing which starve the brain of oxygen and place sufferers at heightened risk from such things as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Sadly, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove difficult because snoring, which is a common symptom and frequently results in sleep apnea being called the snoring disease, is also commonly seen as a symptom of many other medical conditions. Snoring is frequently seen in cases of sleep apnea as the brain responds to a drop in oxygen by awakening the sufferer sufficiently to restart the breathing process and this generally gives rise to snoring.

This recurrent awakening through the night also produces a poor quality of sleep and it is quite common for sleep apnea sufferers to get up in the morning feeling more tired than when they went to bed. This also produces a feeling of sheer exhaustion during the day and an overpowering desire to sleep.

But, tiredness arising from poor quality sleep is only one part of the problem and various other symptoms will also generally be seen including headaches in the morning, forgetfulness and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.

Without treatment the growing exhaustion from sleep apnea can cause major psychological difficulties starting with simple irritability and moving on to depression with noticeable changes in both mood and behavior.

Both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are treatable and, provided the condition is caught at an early stage, this treatment can often be fairly simple. For instance, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can normally be treated with nothing more than a course of decongestants. Likewise, a lot of cases of sleep apnea which are not too serious can be treated with a mask which is worn while sleeping and that provides a constant pressure of air to keep the airway open. Finally, in the most severe cases surgery may be required and can be very effective, though it can also produce various complications and must be considered carefully.

Probably the most important thing to remember when it comes to treating sleep apnea is that because it carries the potential risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to take sleeping pills or to use other forms of sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of their doctor.

Natural sleep remedies can undoubtedly provide an effective complement to medically prescribed medication and herbal remedies which are designed to improve the quality and duration of sleep may well be helpful in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness generally brought on by sleep apnea. In the same way, such things as chromatherapy, aromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation will help in reducing the anxiety and insomnia which go together with sleep apnea.