Most people do not know about sleep apnea, but millions of people suffer from it. As with all common things, it was not noticed until it started to become a problem. Sleep apnea is a life-threatening disorder. If you sleep alone all the time, it may be not easy to catch it.
Dr John Remmer, a doctor at Harvard University, eventually linked airway obstruction to lack of sleep. In 1978, Dr Remmer coined the term “obstructive sleep apnea” or “OSA. This link between airway obstruction that causes OSA OSA paved the way to finding a treatment.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Apnea is translated as breathlessness. When you sleep and snore, you feel uncomfortable because you stop breathing for more than 10 seconds between snores. You will usually hear a panting voice in the air right after you lose your breath. That is how the body gets the oxygen it needs. Apnea during sleep can reduce blood oxygen saturation by more than 3-4%. This proportion may not seem high, but it can have a devastating effect on overall health.
Causes of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is usually caused by airway obstruction caused by the collapse of the soft tissue at the back of the throat during sleep.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Disrupted breathing
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Irritability
- Morning sore throat
- Limited attention span or difficulty thinking clearly
- Snoring
- Frequent need to wake up to urinate
How does sleep apnea affect the body?
Sleep apnea can have a variety of psychological and physical consequences, from mild irritation to life-threatening. Sleep apnea affects many systems in the body, including:
Respiratory System
Lack of oxygen during sleep can exacerbate the symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causing inflamed airways.
Endocrine system
Sleep apnea patients are more likely to be insulin resistance and this can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Cardiovascular system
Sleep apnea is associated with hypertension and obesity, which increase heart stress. Sleep apnea increases the likelihood of abnormal heart rhythms and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Digestive system
You are more likely to have high liver enzyme levels or fatty liver. Sleep apnea can also intensify gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may also interfere with sleep.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
If you think you may have sleep apnea or have typical symptoms, consult your doctor where you can be screened and breathing tests can be performed. If it is diagnosed that you have sleep apnea, your doctor can discuss treatment options.
Simply introducing a breathing program in to your life can also help to decrease the symptoms of Sleep Apnea thus improving your overall health and vitality. For more information email dani@glowforlife.com.au