Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the patient has their breathing interrupted while they are sleeping. If the condition is not treated, the patient usually experiences repeated breath interruptions in a night. Sometimes, it has been found that the patient may stop breathing hundreds of times in a single night. As a result of this, the body, especially the brain fails to get enough oxygen to carry out its normal functions. Here are facts about sleep apnea head position.
Conducted research has come to the conclusion that two major types of this disease exist. The two are central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea, usually shortened as OSA. So far, obstructive sleep apnea is the commonest of the two. OSA is caused by blocked airway. The blockage is as a result of soft tissues in the back side of the throat collapsing when a person sleeps.
The second type is caused by a problem in the respiratory control center in the brain. The brain fails to send the appropriate signal that causes contraction and relaxation of muscles in charge of breathing. This is often caused by instability in part of the brain that controls breathing. There are many reasons why this problem may occur.
First, a person must be having certain predisposing risk factors which make them vulnerable to the problem. But this disorder can affect any person no matter their sex or age. For example, at the moment there are lots of kids suffering from this condition is the United States. GERD, being overweight, having a big neck, being over 40 years, nasal obstruction, family history, and being male among others are some of the risk factors.
Research indicates that more men suffer from this condition as compared to women. Having too much weight, is also a very important risk factor. Correcting weight may help ease or eliminate the problem. In men, people with a neck size of 17 inches or more are at a higher risk of contracting this condition. On the contrary, people with a neck size of 16 inches or more are also at a higher risk.
Sleep apnea causes a lot of discomfort and in more than one case is known to be accompanied by more critical conditions. Some of these eventually lead to heart failure, headaches, depression, worsening ADHD, and diabetes just to name a few. Leaving the condition untreated for long makes children and adolescents to exhibit poor academic achievement. Adults at home or at work also exhibit diminished performance in their daily routines.
Several treatment options are available for this condition. For those who are experiencing moderate or severe forms of the condition, wearing a CPAP equipment may be recommendable. This equipment is worn when one is sleeping and helps to deliver air to the lungs at a slightly higher pressure than air in the atmosphere. The high pressure assists in keeping airways open, preventing snoring and apnea.
Other approaches of tackling this condition besides CPAP also exist. For example, the throat and airways may be kept open by adjusting both the head and sleeping positions while one is sleeping. Severe form of this condition can be corrected through surgery by creating new airways, removing tissues, or repositioning jaws.
Conducted research has come to the conclusion that two major types of this disease exist. The two are central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea, usually shortened as OSA. So far, obstructive sleep apnea is the commonest of the two. OSA is caused by blocked airway. The blockage is as a result of soft tissues in the back side of the throat collapsing when a person sleeps.
The second type is caused by a problem in the respiratory control center in the brain. The brain fails to send the appropriate signal that causes contraction and relaxation of muscles in charge of breathing. This is often caused by instability in part of the brain that controls breathing. There are many reasons why this problem may occur.
First, a person must be having certain predisposing risk factors which make them vulnerable to the problem. But this disorder can affect any person no matter their sex or age. For example, at the moment there are lots of kids suffering from this condition is the United States. GERD, being overweight, having a big neck, being over 40 years, nasal obstruction, family history, and being male among others are some of the risk factors.
Research indicates that more men suffer from this condition as compared to women. Having too much weight, is also a very important risk factor. Correcting weight may help ease or eliminate the problem. In men, people with a neck size of 17 inches or more are at a higher risk of contracting this condition. On the contrary, people with a neck size of 16 inches or more are also at a higher risk.
Sleep apnea causes a lot of discomfort and in more than one case is known to be accompanied by more critical conditions. Some of these eventually lead to heart failure, headaches, depression, worsening ADHD, and diabetes just to name a few. Leaving the condition untreated for long makes children and adolescents to exhibit poor academic achievement. Adults at home or at work also exhibit diminished performance in their daily routines.
Several treatment options are available for this condition. For those who are experiencing moderate or severe forms of the condition, wearing a CPAP equipment may be recommendable. This equipment is worn when one is sleeping and helps to deliver air to the lungs at a slightly higher pressure than air in the atmosphere. The high pressure assists in keeping airways open, preventing snoring and apnea.
Other approaches of tackling this condition besides CPAP also exist. For example, the throat and airways may be kept open by adjusting both the head and sleeping positions while one is sleeping. Severe form of this condition can be corrected through surgery by creating new airways, removing tissues, or repositioning jaws.
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