Sleep apnea is a harmful sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome. Obstructive sleep apnea is quite common and causes a person to snore caused by a person repeatedly stopping breathing and then starting again. People with obstructive sleep apnea also experience daytime fatigue. The frequency of obstructive sleep apnea increases with higher weights and ages. Central sleep apnea is a lot like obstructive sleep apnea, however the two types of sleep apnea are caused by different body abnormalities. Central sleep apnea can occur after a person experiences heart failure or a stroke. Complex sleep apnea syndrome was more recently discovered and has qualities of both obstructive and complex sleep apnea. Different types of sleep apnea are caused by different factors. Obstructive sleep apnea develops when the muscles at the back of a person’s throat relax too much, preventing normal breathing. Central sleep apnea occurs when a person’s brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
Different lifestyle and medical factors may influence someone’s likelihood of developing sleep apnea. People who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for developing sleep apnea. Men and older adults are also more likely to experience sleep apnea. Certain lifestyle factors and habits can increase chances of developing sleep apnea. Smoking increases inflammation and fluid buildup in the airway, causing some people to get sleep apnea as a result. People who use substances that relax the muscles in the throat, such as alcohol, tranquilizers, or sedatives, are also increasing risk. Additionally, sleep apnea is more likely to occur in people with thicker necks, a narrowed airway, a family history of sleep apnea, and people with regular nasal blockage or congestion. Nasal congestion usually leads to the development of obstructive sleep apnea specifically. Symptoms of all types of sleep apnea include periods of time of no breathing, mouth-breathing, daytime fatigue, insomnia, nightmares, snoring, sleep deprivation, loud breathing, depression, dry mouth or throat, irritability, mood swings, high blood pressure, headache, decreased libido, sweating at night, unexplained weight gain, or chest pain. Insomnia can also cause people to wake up suddenly by gasping for air or choking. Seeking medical attention for any of the aforementioned symptoms can help reduce the risk of the sleep apnea becoming more serious and potentially leading to complications. Treatment for sleep apnea includes lifestyle and habit changes, as well as certain medications or even surgery. Losing weight and beginning to exercise regularly often reduced the symptoms people experience from sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea can also see an improvement in their symptoms after reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption and sleeping on the side of the body. Doctors often prescribe the use of a ventilator that provides continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, to help people with sleep apnea to breathe more normally throughout the night. Surgeries like tonsillectomies, removal of the adenoid(s), or palatoplasty, may be necessary to resolve some cases of sleep apnea.
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