Sleep Enough

Sleep apnea. It is a Greek word, meaning “without breath”. You might have heard of it, or if you’re one of the almost 20 million Americans suffering from this, you would have most certainly wished to be free from it at some point. Sleep apnea is defined as a condition in which a person’s breathing is regularly interrupted during sleep. The interruptions usually last from 10-60 seconds, during which at least a few breaths are missed.

Sleep apnea can be both mild or severe in its impact on the quality of a person’s life. In rare cases, it can be life threatening. During the period where breathing is halted, the brain doesn’t work as it should in detecting rising levels of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream due to the pause in breathing. In order for breathing to resume, the brain has to awaken the person each time the breathing stops. This cycle can repeat itself hundreds of times per night. The person suffering from sleep apnea is usually not aware of his/her condition aside from the fatigue felt each day due to disrupted sleep.

So what’s bad about sleep apnea? Sleep apnea reduces the oxygen levels in the body and deprives the body of proper, restful sleep. It can just go on for years, or even decades without ever being detected and treated and progressively get worse over time. Brain cells can get damaged due to lack of oxygen, and high blood pressure can develop, including other forms of cardiovascular problems.

Sufferers of sleep apnea never get deep sleep. Therefore, they feel tired and sleepy throughout the day. Hence, falling asleep on the job or at the wheel is a common occurrence. Other symptoms associated with sleep apnea include snoring, choking, or heavy sweating during sleep. The sufferer may wake up frequently during the night just to catch his or her breath.

Typical symptoms of sleep apnea usually involve diminished ability of the mind to concentrate on typical daytime tasks, and remembering things, since sleep apnea affects the mind. Attention spans and judgment may be affected, and the sufferer may also experience frequent mood swings and depression. Headaches and a dry mouth in the morning are also some of the unpleasant symptoms of sleep apnea. As a result of these debilitating symptoms, sufferers of sleep apnea usually find it difficult to hold down their jobs in the long term, and are more vulnerable to driving related accidents.

There are several kinds of sleep apnea. In Obstructed Sleep Apnea (OSA), the muscles inside the windpipe located at the back of the throat soften, and in the process, relax, blocking the inside of the airway, and thus preventing the inflow/outflow of air. Since these muscles are soft and collapsible, obese and elderly people are most at risk of OSA, with men forming the majority of the sufferers. Loud snoring along with disrupted breathing is the chief sign of obstructed sleep apnea.

In Central Sleep Apnea, the problem lies with the brain not being able to react to the drop in oxygen and prompt for normal breathing. This is a rarer, but more dangerous form of sleep apnea, which may even result in sudden death. Sufferers of central sleep apnea need to be cautious when using sedatives and tranquilizers, as these drugs may aggravate the apnea, causing breathing to cease altogether for long periods.

In Mixed Apnea, blocked airways and loss of central brain control over the breathing may occur simultaneously. A prolonged case of obstructive sleep apnea may result in central sleep apnea developing. This form of sleep apnea is more complex than the other two mentioned, and involve a wide range of physical and neurological dysfunctions.

Who are the most predisposed to sleep apnea? Middle aged males form the biggest group, especially those who are overweight and practice an unhealthy lifestyle of smoking and drinking. Genetics also play a part, as is an irregular sleeping schedule. Although there has been much research done on sleep apnea, no one-fits-all cure exists, due to the varied types of sleep apnea, and the different physical make-ups of individual sufferers. Most sleep apnea therapy involves opening and maintaining the respiratory pathways during sleep, the use of medication, or surgery.