Sleep apnea is whenever you expertise one or more pauses in breathing (apnea) or abnormally low or shallow breathing (hypopnea) whilst sleeping. These pauses may possibly last for seconds or up to couple of minutes & may possibly occur as few as 5 times to up to 30 times (or far more) within the length of an hour. Sleep apnea statistics show approximately 20% adults are victims, however only 10% of these are diagnosed.
While a common disorder, it often goes undiagnosed due to the lack of recognizable symptoms. This is 1 of the explanations why many people who undergo from sleep apnea do not realize that they have this problem. The lack of obvious symptoms & the reality that it occurs only during sleep, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea may typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea may be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, is due to the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, one of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects an estimated 4% of men & 2% of women, with men much more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is much more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This is often found in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or could be on some form of medication. If it's not associated with any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most typical complaint among people affected by any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation may also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it may result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea can be detected by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. A different is oximetry which measures the heart beat rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are many different treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very couple of undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition might have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
While a common disorder, it often goes undiagnosed due to the lack of recognizable symptoms. This is 1 of the explanations why many people who undergo from sleep apnea do not realize that they have this problem. The lack of obvious symptoms & the reality that it occurs only during sleep, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea may typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea may be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, is due to the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, one of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects an estimated 4% of men & 2% of women, with men much more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is much more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This is often found in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or could be on some form of medication. If it's not associated with any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most typical complaint among people affected by any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation may also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it may result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea can be detected by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. A different is oximetry which measures the heart beat rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are many different treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very couple of undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition might have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
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This above material is a good introduction to this topic and if you need more information click Sleep Apnea Statistics or you can find further articles on this subject here Sleep Apnea Tests.
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