Sleep Apnea
Do you snore or could it be more?
(Obstructive Sleep Apnea)
Definition: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a disease when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep. Breathing stops because the airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs. Sleep patterns are disrupted, resulting in excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the daytime.
Incidence: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is as common as adult asthma. On average, there are 4 in 100 middle-aged men and 2 in 100 middle-aged women who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Approximately 95% remain undiagnosed and untreated. Sleep apnea is a common, potentially dangerous condition, and is often associated with loud, frequent snoring. Sleep apnea can affect persons of any age or gender, but it is most common among overweight persons, middle aged men, and those older than 50 years. Persons with this disorder stop breathing for as long as 2 minutes while asleep.
Types: There are different kinds of sleep apnea, primarily obstructive, central, and mixed. During obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles of the airway collapse. As a result, even though the breathing muscles continue to work, no air can move through the air passage. During Central sleep apnea, the breathing muscles themselves stop working. Mixed sleep apnea begins with a loss of breathing effort but ends with symptoms of obstruction.
Mechanism: An episode of sleep apnea ends when the person wakes up slightly, gasping for air and begins breathing again. The process may be repeated 40 times a night or more, disturbing the natural sleep pattern. As a result, he or she often are extremely sleepy during the daytime and may fall asleep at inappropriate times, causing disruption of his or her personal and professional life. Lack of adequate sleep also can cause anxiety and irritability and affect concentration and memory. In addition, when the person stops breathing the level of oxygen in his blood decreases, putting a strain on the heart. High blood pressure and other heart problems may be associated with sleep apnea.
(Obstructive Sleep Apnea)
Definition: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a disease when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep. Breathing stops because the airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs. Sleep patterns are disrupted, resulting in excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the daytime.
Incidence: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is as common as adult asthma. On average, there are 4 in 100 middle-aged men and 2 in 100 middle-aged women who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Approximately 95% remain undiagnosed and untreated. Sleep apnea is a common, potentially dangerous condition, and is often associated with loud, frequent snoring. Sleep apnea can affect persons of any age or gender, but it is most common among overweight persons, middle aged men, and those older than 50 years. Persons with this disorder stop breathing for as long as 2 minutes while asleep.
Types: There are different kinds of sleep apnea, primarily obstructive, central, and mixed. During obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles of the airway collapse. As a result, even though the breathing muscles continue to work, no air can move through the air passage. During Central sleep apnea, the breathing muscles themselves stop working. Mixed sleep apnea begins with a loss of breathing effort but ends with symptoms of obstruction.
Mechanism: An episode of sleep apnea ends when the person wakes up slightly, gasping for air and begins breathing again. The process may be repeated 40 times a night or more, disturbing the natural sleep pattern. As a result, he or she often are extremely sleepy during the daytime and may fall asleep at inappropriate times, causing disruption of his or her personal and professional life. Lack of adequate sleep also can cause anxiety and irritability and affect concentration and memory. In addition, when the person stops breathing the level of oxygen in his blood decreases, putting a strain on the heart. High blood pressure and other heart problems may be associated with sleep apnea.
Check yourself with the following questionnaire:
1- Is your sleep disturbed?
2- Do you toss and turn and feel as if you can't breathe comfortably at night?
3- Do you wake in the morning with headaches?
4- Do you feel irritable and tired even after a full night's sleep?
5- Do you feel tired throughout the day?
6- Do you doze off unexpectedly during the day (such as when driving a car, during a meeting, on the telephone or watching TV)?
7- Do you have difficulty concentrating on tasks at work, to the point that your job suffers?
If you snore and you answered yes to one of the questions listed above, you may have sleep apnea. Diagnosis and the choice of treatment for sleep apnea depend upon each individual. YOU PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE A SLEEP STUDY DONE, FOR MORE INFORMATION call to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist. (239) 369-3333
1- Is your sleep disturbed?
2- Do you toss and turn and feel as if you can't breathe comfortably at night?
3- Do you wake in the morning with headaches?
4- Do you feel irritable and tired even after a full night's sleep?
5- Do you feel tired throughout the day?
6- Do you doze off unexpectedly during the day (such as when driving a car, during a meeting, on the telephone or watching TV)?
7- Do you have difficulty concentrating on tasks at work, to the point that your job suffers?
If you snore and you answered yes to one of the questions listed above, you may have sleep apnea. Diagnosis and the choice of treatment for sleep apnea depend upon each individual. YOU PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE A SLEEP STUDY DONE, FOR MORE INFORMATION call to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist. (239) 369-3333