Sleep apnea is an ailment caused by an abnormal breathing during sleep. It is a symptom in which people pause their breath when they sleep. These temporary breathing gaps affect sleep quality and affect the supply of oxygen that causes a high risk health condition. Commonly, sleep apnea affects middle aged individuals in both sexes but more popular to men. Due to its high potency that affects health conditions, it is very essential that people are aware of its types, causes and treatment.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is usually caused by obstruction of the airways passage at the back of the throat. These physical interference will generate a temporary blockage and cause in lapses of breath.
Another type is the central sleep apnea or CSA in short. This type of sleep apnea is marked by the problem of the brain’s system that controls the muscles. When these muscles which are involved in the respiration are affected, it causes the breathing to slow or even shallower in function.
The third type of sleep apnea is the mixed sleep apnea. This type of sleep disorder affects the person, he or she experiences both types of sleep issues such as OSA and CSA. That’s where the name mixed derived.
Because both types are distinctive, it is very important to know the differences in their symptoms, causes and treatments. However, these three types share certain common symptoms such as disrupted breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, irritable and difficult to think clearly.
Most of these symptoms emerged as a result of poor sleep and lack of oxygen level due to a continuous interruption of breathing. On the other hand, obstructive sleep apnea also shows connection to cause massive snoring that sometimes involves gasping and choking that usually causes to awake the sufferer. In addition, dry mouth or morning sore throat will also be felt by most individuals who suffer sleep apnea. But in overall, every person who suffers sleep apnea is not aware of their breathing issue unless their bed partner discloses the incident to them. This is the reason why most people who sleep alone will have an excessive daytime sleepiness manifestation.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
There are lots of factors to be considered as the causes of sleep apnea. The usual blockage of the airways is caused by anatomical characteristics in which the oversize of the tonsil can affect the airflow. Being overweight is another factor that causes sleep apnea. Obesity is an anatomical explanation of narrowing the airway that can block the passage of the oxygen. Nasal congestion, use of sedatives, alcohol, cigarettes, family history and hormone abnormalities are also among the causes of sleep apnea.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
One of the best treatments of sleep apnea is the changing of the lifestyle frequency. If you are obsessed, losing weight is an excellent way to stop snoring or sleep apnea. Another way to reduce the symptoms is to end the use of sedatives, alcohol and cigarettes. Using a bi-level positive airway pressure machine that continuously pushes air with the use of a mask is also highly recommended. But nevertheless, consulting a doctor is extremely suggested, for these professional experts have the optimum knowledge to investigate the root cause of the illness.