Sleep Apnea

How many hours do you sleep and do you think it is a healthy resting time for your body?  Well, it is said that we as human beings need at least 7 ½ to 8 hours of sleep to feel well rested, but not everybody has the same sleep pattern rhythm.  Some people are deprived of having a goon sleep in which their body could re-energize for further activities during the day.  There are some disorders that have been named for different sleep deprivations.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a type of insomnia that avoids a person from breathing while sleeping.  People who have sleep apnea go through the process of the brain not getting enough oxygen while resting.  They have difficulty sleeping throughout their sleeping time due to the repeated times of them not breathing during their sleep. 

There are two kinds of sleep apnea, the obstructive and central sleep apnea.  The obstructive sleep apnea is the most common forms of apnea.   This apnea is caused when the airway is blocked by a tissue in the back of the throat that happens during sleep.  The central sleep apnea is different from the obstructive instead of blocking the airway, the brain does not respond efficiently to signal the muscles to breathe due to the instability respiratory system.  Central sleep apnea is more common in people who have certain medical conditions or is taking certain medications. 

Who can be diagnosed with sleep apnea?

Actually anyone can even children.  It can be caused by genetics, large tonsils, allergies, sinus problems, men being over 40, overweight.  These causes can happen to anyone from children to adults. 

Is sleep apnea treatable?

Of course, it is treatable.  Sleep apnea can be treated at home or by a doctor.  It all depends on the severity of the diagnose.  Sleep apnea can be easily treated by changing the lifestyle of a person.  A person with sleep apnea might need to lose weight, change sleeping positions, stop smoking if a smoker, avoid alcohol, no sleeping pills, and avoid sleeping on their back.  Sometimes home treatment will not help if the sleep apnea is being caused by a deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils, or someone with a small jaw and with an overbite.  What is needed would be a surgery for it to be treated. 

If not treated, sleep apnea could cause high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.  If the person already has heart problems, it can increase the heart failure of a person. 

Conclusion:

Everybody needs a good sleep to be able to function properly during our daily lifestyle.  A person with sleep apnea does not need to feel they do not have options in being able to sleep well.  There are many treatments that a doctor could prescribe or inform about.