How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Health
Sleep ApneaSleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that may go without a diagnosis for many years. It is not until the disturbed sleeper uncovers that something is not right, that they can get help. Sleep apnea can affect health in many ways, yet these effects can go undetected as well because they are blamed on other things. This article will teach how to better identify this disorder and where to find help.
The Sleep Disorder Defined
This disorder is defined as frequent breathing pauses that occur while a person is asleep. In certain cases, this can occur hundreds of times each night. Constantly starting and stopping the breathing process can lead to bad health effects that make it important to diagnose and treat this disorder early. There are two common kinds of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of this sleep disorder. It happens when the muscles in the relax and block the air passage in a sleeper's throat which causes snoring and a choking sensation.
Central sleep apnea happens when the brain forgets to tell the lungs in the body to breathe. This pause may happen for up to twenty seconds and sometimes wake the person from a deep sleep.
Symptoms
Many people who are plagued by sleep problems are not aware of it since it occurs during sleep. The symptoms are normally noticed by another person that is present while the other sleeps. These include:
gasping
snoring
choking
twitching
Effects On A Person's Health
Daily fatigue can be a result of this sleep disorder since it keeps people from getting the benefits of regular and restful sleep patterns. Even during times when a person feels like they have had a full night of solid sleep, tiredness can still occur the next day because they do not totally experience a deep sleep that refreshes. This lack of sleep can total up over a long time period and lead to dangerous situations that involve driving, operating machinery, or any other activity that requires attention. Besides tiredness, sleep apnea can cause: high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, stroke, depression, impotence, weight gain, headaches, memory loss.
Treatments
There are many different treatments available for sleep apnea. Some of these can be used at home while others require special medical help. A person may find relief by consulting a cosmetic dentist that may be experienced in the area of sleep apnea. These dentists can make a device that holds the air passages open during sleep to make sure normal breathing occurs through the night. Other possible sleep apnea cures may include: losing weight, changing sleep positions, quitting smoking and alcohol, surgery.
If a person thinks that they are suffering from sleep apnea, they should not hesitate to see a specialist that can use technology to identify a sleep disorder. This professional will be able to recommend a treatment and a dentist that may help as well.
Think you might have a problem with sleep apnea? Nashville Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Stephen Poss may have the solution for you. Click here for more details - http://www.drposssmiles.com - Beth Davis is a staff writer for Dr. Stephen Poss.