What Are The Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is identified with pauses in breathing while asleep. There are signs to look out for that may indicate you are suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be a dangerous condition so you should consult your doctor should you display any of the common symptoms. The following paragraphs offer some answers.

Of all the sleep apnea symptoms, the first one that comes to mind is sleepiness. Someone with sleep apnea struggles to get a good night’s sleep. Consequently, that individual is always sleepy. Yet sleepiness represents only one of the sleep apnea symptoms.

Some sleep apnea symptoms are similar to those found with sleep deprivation. Morning headaches and dry mouth are examples of such symptoms. Repeated morning headaches and frequent episodes of dry mouth could easily a sign that you’re suffering with sleep apnea.

Other sleep apnea symptoms are problems with concentration, forgetfulness and depression. These are among the less obvious sleep apnea symptoms. They represent behavior that has been associated with many things other than sleep deprivation. They might easily be overlooked or attributed to hunger, aging, or stress.

One way to determine whether or not lapses in alertness result from sleep apnea is to try and improve the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Keeping regular hours bedtime hours, avoiding caffeine and the development of a bedtime routing should all help you to sleep better. If you use these strategies, over a period of time your daytime sleepiness should diminish. However, if you don’t start to see improvement after a couple of weeks it may be that you are suffering with sleep apnea and a visit to your doctor would be advised.

Formal identification of sleep apnea requires observation during sleep. Snoring can be another sleep apnea symptom, although not all those snore suffer with sleep apnea. Unfortunately, not all individuals have someone at hand to listen for sounds of snoring. With small children, snoring is less pronounced and sleep apnea is best detected by a skilled physician.

Regardless of an individual’s age or medical history, the presence of sleep apnea symptoms needs to be addressed. Consult with your physician if you are concerned about sleep apnea.


What is Sleep Apnea and do I Have it?

Sleep apnea, also referred to as sleep apnoea, is a common sleep disorder. It's characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas, last 10 seconds or more and occur repeatedly throughout the night. People with sleep apnea partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they may not be aware of the disturbances in their sleep.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), caused by relaxation of soft tissue in the back of the throat that blocks the passage of air. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by irregularities in the brain’s normal signals to breathe. Some people with sleep apnea have a combination of both types.

OSA is more common in men than women and in people who are overweight or obese. Here are some symptoms to look for if you suspect you are suffering from this disorder.

* Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
* Restless Sleep
* Loud Snoring (With Periods Of Silence Followed By Gasps)
* Falling Asleep During The Day
* Morning Headaches
* Trouble Concentrating
* Irritability
* Forgetfulness
* Mood or Behavior Changes
* Weight Gain
* Increased Heart Rate
* Anxiety
* Depression

Most people with sleep apnea have obstructive apnea "OSA", in which the person stops breathing during sleep due to airway blockage. Breathing is resumed within a few seconds, but periods of as long as sixty seconds are not uncommon in serious cases.

OSA is more common amongst people who snore, who are obese, who consume alcohol, or who have anatomical abnormalities of the jaw or soft palate. However, atypical cases do occur, and the condition should not be ruled out unilaterally merely because the patient does not fit the profile.

"OSA" is caused by the relaxation of the muscles in the airway during sleep. Whilst the vast majority of people successfully maintain an open upper airway and breathe normally during sleep, a significant number of individuals are prone to severe narrowing or occlusion of the pharynx, such that breathing is impeded or even completely obstructed. As the brain senses a build-up of carbon dioxide, airway muscles are activated which open the airway, allowing breathing to resume but interrupting deep sleep.

The prognosis is that sleep apnea left untreated can be life threatening. Excessive daytime sleepiness can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving. Sleep apnea appears to put individuals at risk for stroke. Successful treatment can also reduce the risk of heart and blood pressure problems.


Tips And Advice On Dealing With Sleep Apnea

People who suffer from snoring know who annoying it can be. People who sleep with a snorer really know! But were you aware that there is an even more intense form of snoring that actually carries some heavy health risks? This is known as sleep apnea; read more about it in this article.

Sleep apnea can be connected to your weight. If you are overweight, consider going on a diet to lose a few pounds. Studies have shown that overweight people who suffer from sleep apnea were able to improve their symptoms by losing about 25 pounds in a year: give it a try!

Try losing some weight. Getting into shape has many benefits. If you are on the heavier side and suffering from sleep apnea, you may find that slimming down helps with that as well. Studies have found that overweight and obese individuals are more likely to find relief from sleep apnea by getting themselves to a healthier weight.

Consider using a mouth guard when you sleep. If your jaw is improperly aligned, this could lead to issues with sleep apnea. The alignment of your jaw has a lot to do with whether or not you are getting sufficient airflow. Being fitted for a mouth guard can help your breathe while it's correcting the problem.

Adjust your CPAP machine. Most machines come with default settings that might not correspond to your needs. You should be able to regulate the airflow: try different settings and choose one that seems to work for you. If you feel like your machine is not working like it should, try changing the settings again.

Lose the extra weight. Research has shown that losing weight can dramatically improve your sleep apnea symptoms. Losing a few pounds can reduce the amount of pressure on your neck as you sleep, a primary cause of sleep apnea. Some people were even able to completely cure their apnea using this method.

Try some throat and mouth exercises. One reason people suffer from sleep apnea is because their throats close when they sleep. Strengthening these muscles can decrease the chance that they will go slack while you are sleeping. Try some tongue, jaw and neck exercises to increase your throat strength.

If you suspect that you have a sleeping disorder, but are unsure, enter a sleep study. They may be able to diagnose your disorder as sleep apnea and make suggestions regarding treatment. Treatments include mouth guards, CPAP, diet changes, and modifications of sleeping habits. You won't know your options until you speak with someone about it.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, it is important to avoid drinking alcohol. Alcoholic beverages will relax the muscles in your throat, which makes it more likely that they will block your airway during your sleep. At the very least, avoid any alcoholic beverages in the evening before you get ready for bed.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can be improved by losing weight if you are obese. Losing about 25 pounds can dramatically improve this condition. For some people that will cure the problem, for others it may just help improve the symptoms that you are experiencing. Try to eat healthy and make sure to get enough exercise every day.

Eliminate or reduce your alcohol consumption to reduce your sleep apnea episodes. The relaxation that results from alcohol use can cause you to breathe less deeply and may also increase the likelihood that your upper airway will collapse. If you can't refrain altogether from alcohol, make sure that you don't drink for at least 3 hours before bedtime.

Have you heard of this problem before? Is it possible that you actually suffer from this issue without knowing about it? Now that you have read through this article, you know the best ways to handle apnea if you, or a loved one, develop it later on in your lives.

Sleep Apnea Depression - Devastation Waiting To Happen

If you suffer from sleep apnea depression may be one of the consequences you are dealing with on a daily basis because of it. Although depression is not the only consequence of sleep apnea it can be the one that most affects your quality of life.

Depression can be a devastating disorder if left untreated and can ruin your life by leaving you feeling lost and alone and eventually driving others away. If your depression is caused because you are not getting good rest at night t
hen you need to address it with your doctor and get treatment started right away. Sleep disorders like sleep apnea can lead to so many other issues, depression doesn't have to be one of them.

If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, have your partner watch and listen to you when you are sleeping. If they notice any stoppage of breathing, extremely loud snoring, snorting or gasping for breath when you are sleeping you should see your doctor a soon as possible.

If you do not have anyone to listen and watch you sleep, either set up a video camera or audio recording to get a good idea about your sleep habits.

Other symptoms you may have that go along with sleep apnea depression are mood swings, irritability, impatience with yourself or others, grogginess (even after a full nights sleep), decreased mental function and inattentiveness.

If you are constantly trying to stay awake at work or drinking your own body weight in coffee each day or downing energy drinks like they are going out of style, you may want to check out if you are suffering from sleep apnea. Your doctor can order a sleep study where you go to a facility and get hook up to monitors which record your breathing and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.

Treatment may be as simple as changing your pillow, losing weight or wearing an oral device made by your dentist. Other treatment options include using a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, machine with a mask you have to wear when sleeping that continuously blows air into your nose to keep you breathing at all times. Oral devices may need to be worn if you cannot tolerate the CPAP machine but they will not be as effective as the CPAP machine so it is best to try to become accustomed to wearing the mask at night.

Your doctor will diagnose your sleep apnea as one of three types, obstructive, central or complex sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is just that, there is something blocking the nasal passages that prevents you from breathing correctly. In it's most severe form this type may require surgery to remove the blockage. Central sleep apnea is caused by a glitch in the respiratory center of the brain where the brain cannot send the right signals to the muscles used to take a breath. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of these two. Sleep apnea depression is just one of the symptoms or consequences of sleep apnea, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

What Are The Sleep Apnea Devices?

Sleep apnea devices are generally utilized by individuals who have sleep disorders. The person slumbering near the person together with sleep issues get worried an excessive amount of about someone sleeping beside all of them, regardless of whether he can acquire another breath or otherwise. They should take care of the actual not enough concentration as well as tiredness during the rising hours.

The sleep apnea devices market research report categorizes the global market into Diagnostic Devices and Therapeutic Devices. Both of these markets are broken down into segments and sub-segments, providing exhaustive value-volume analysis for 2009, 2010 and 2011, as well as forecast up to 2017. Each market is comprehensively analyzed at a granular level by geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World) to provide in-depth information on the global scenario. A separate segment of end-user analysis is also incorporated in the report to provide information on devices that are used exclusively at hospital or at home and devices that are used at both places.

Sleep apnea devices are medical devices which remedy sleep disorders by helping the body establish controlled breathing and snoring. The sleep apnea device aides in treating sleep apnea disorders characterized by breathing problems and increased heart rate during sleep. The majority of sleep apnea patients suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The global number of sleep apnea patients is estimated to reach 105 million patients by the end of 2012, and most of the patients remain undiagnosed due to their negligence.

Sleep apnea devices have to be not only custom-fitted to each individual, but also positioned to a very specific point at which the sleep apnea is treated. His expertise also ensures that there are no other side effects to the jaw joint, jaw muscles, and teeth. If this position is not exactly calculated by a well-trained and experienced  Fort Lauderdale dentist , the sleep apnea could be treated to the detriment of other important anatomical structures of the jaw, such as the TMJ, muscles and teeth.

The most successful appliances used in sleep apnea treatment are Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS). These CPAP alternatives work by repositioning and holding the jaw forward during sleep, thereby opening the airway and preventing the collapse that causes obstructive sleep apnea. There are several different models on the market today. The best MAS devices are custom fitted for you by a dentist.

Using sleep apnea devices as a way of treatment usually involves oxygen administration with continuous positive pressure (CPAP), which works very well in preventing apnea symptoms. Also, it's necessary to change your lifestyle in order to sleep better and cure this condition. In severe cases, surgical treatment is the most appropriate solution. The main benefit of the operation is that the oxygen saturation in the arterial blood increases.

There are also dental sleep apnea devices available, which are more travel-friendly, and more effective than surgery. These prevent the patient’s tongue from falling back into the throat and causing the stoppage in breathing. It holds the patient’s lower jaw forward by using two acrylic devices that cover the teeth, and are attached to each other. Side effects of dental sleep apnea devices include soreness, built up saliva, slight damage to the teeth, jaw and mouth, and even a slight alteration in their position.

For those who suspect that they may have sleep apnea, they should first visit their doctors. Fortunately for sleep apnea sufferers there are solutions. In fact, there are more sleep apnea devices available now than ever before.

How To Get A Good Night's Sleep When You Have Sleep Apnea

Is your snoring keeping you from getting the rest that you need? If you have not seen a doctor about this issue, you might be experiencing a dangerous and serious form of snoring associated with sleep apnea. If this sounds like your own situation, you need not worry. The article below can help.

In order to assist you with sleep apnea, you must talk to your doctor about what CPAP machines to use. The machine size and how loud it is are things you should think about. Certain CPAPs are tinier than bread boxes and are barely heard. Your doctor will likely have a preferred brand or type of CPAP to recommend to you.

Do you occasionally drink or smoke? Drop these unhealthy habits. Smoking irritates your air passages, making them narrow. Your throat can swell thanks to smoking, and alcohol relaxes your palate and allows it to drop to the back of your throat, which restricts your airway while you sleep. If you're not able to stop smoking and drinking, at least don't do them before you fall asleep.

Refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages as much as possible, especially at bedtime. Alcohol has a relaxing effect on all your muscles. You might like the feeling, but it can contribute to or cause sleep apnea. Alcohol will relax the throat muscles, which ends up making it harder for the body to control the airways. If you absolutely must drink, then do it in moderation and certainly not right when you're about to go to sleep.

Attempt to sleep on the side to get a full night of rest in spite of apnea. The chances of your airways being restricted are more likely when you sleep on your back. Try to fall asleep on one of your sides to see if that improves your sleep apnea this evening.

Sleep apnea can be extremely tricky to diagnose yourself, especially if you sleep alone without a loved one to tell you about minor sleep problems you experience. You can consider recording your sleep patterns with a camcorder. The video needs audio too so that the doctors can hear the noises you make.

Use a chin strap with your CPAP each night to prevent your mouth from opening as you sleep. This little piece of fabric can work wonders to hold your chin that your breathing is not interrupted. The CPAP only works if the mouth is closed, so try using the strap.

Do you travel frequently? If so, then do not forget to bring along your CPAP. If you have a sleep apnea diagnosis, you must use your CPAP every single night. Most machines come with a bag that they can be transported safely in. Any time that you need to sleep overnight while traveling, you should keep your CPAP machine in your sleeping quarters.

Those with sleep apnea should treat any symptoms of sinus or allergy problems. Remember that you already face difficulties from your sleep apnea. You don't need anything else adding to that. Making sure your airway isn't obstructed is your best bet to getting good sleep.

Reduce sleep apnea by shedding excess weight. Many people find that they can completely correct sleep apnea by losing excess weight. You can have relief from sleep apnea symptoms by losing as little as 10 pounds.

There are many causes of sleep apnea and there are also many treatments for it. Since you have read this article, you have increased your knowledge about dealing with your sleep apnea. Pass this knowledge on to others whose lives may be affected by this condition. You will be on your way soon to a good night's sleep.

Sleep Apnea Cures - If Not Cures They Help

Sleep apnea cures come in the form of lifestyle changes. Quitting smoking, if you smoke, and losing weight to decrease obesity can be enough of a change to eliminate sleep apnea and allow you to sleep better at night. If, on the other hand, these measures are not enough there are treatment options available to reduce the life-threatening effects you are susceptible to.

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of treatment is a CPAP machine. CPAP stand for continuous positive airway pressure and you must wear a mask that fits snugly over your nose and/or mouth attached to a machine that blows air continuously into your nose and/or mouth when you are sleeping so your airway stays open and you do not suffocate in your sleep.

That does not happen often. What usually happens is the oxygen levels of your blood drop at least 4% and then your brain signals you to wake up so you can resume breathing. This can happen as much as thirty times per hour for as long as you are asleep. Do the math, if you will. If you are asleep for eight hours and you stop breathing 30 times every hour, you stop breathing 240 times per night. If each stoppage lasts one minute and your brain wakes you up each time, you miss out on four hours of sleep every single night of the week for weeks or months on end.

If you only have a mild form of sleep apnea you could probably get away with wearing an oral device as one more sleep apnea cures to keep your tongue from falling back and blocking your airway. These devices either hold your tongue down or change the way you hold your mouth when you are sleeping to give you more room behind your tongue, keeping your airway open that way.

You may be encouraged by your doctor to teach yourself to sleep on your side instead of rolling on to your back. A good idea is to sleep with a rolled up blanket or towel behind your back to "remind" you when you are sleeping to stay on your side.

If you have a moderate to severe case, surgery may be necessary to remove the obstruction. Obstructions can include a deviated septum in the nasal passages or tonsils and adenoids in the throat and sinuses. Removing the tonsils and adenoids will allow for more room in the airway and make a collapse of the airway less likely.

Central sleep apnea or complex, or mixed, sleep apnea is the most dangerous kind of apnea. This is the type where your brain fails to signal the muscles that control your breathing to initiate a breath on a consistent basis throughout the night.

In the most severe cases as in central sleep apnea or complex, or mixed, sleep apnea, a tracheostomy with placement of a trach tube in the throat or below the obstructed area may be necessary as sleep apnea cures go.




How To Select The Best Sleep Apnea Treatment

With so many choices, it may seem very difficult to select a sleep apnea treatment that actually works. Any individual who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea is in need of a prompt remedy. If this condition is ignored, it may lead to heart disease, a stroke or other serious medical problem.

In order to select the best sleep apnea treatment, you must consider whether or not the procedure is safe. What type of product warning does it have? If you are looking for an anti-snoring device, you should look for one that has been medically tested and doctor recommended. One such product is, for instance, called the Sleep Genie. While supporting the jaw, it helps the mouth to remain closed using a comfortable nylon lycra blend.
  
It is important to understand that the Sleep Genie is not intended to be a cure for sleep apnea, but rather a product that can work to improve sleep quality. In addition, apnea sufferers who use the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine may benefit from the added use of the Sleep Genie, which helps to keep the mouth closed. Users of the CPAP machine need to sleep with their mouth closed in order to keep the air, provided by the machine, from escaping during sleep.


Other natural sleep apnea treatment methods include the removal of household allergens with the help of air filtration devices, sleeping on your side instead of your back, giving up cigarettes and/or alcohol and paying close attention to your diet. Obesity is one of the leading causes of snoring, which is a direct sign of sleep apnea. Therefore, if you are overweight or have been diagnosed as being obese, it may be time to consider a medically supervised diet and exercise program. In addition to being a good sleep apnea treatment, losing weight will help to improve your overall health.

It is important to realize the difference between sleep apnea and just plain snoring. Snoring is random and does not cause additional problems, other than sleep disruption, for the sufferer. Sleep apnea, however, is diagnosed when the sufferer snores heavily and stops breathing completely on more than one occasion during the night. Because the latter is of major concern to physicians, it should be treated with an effective sleep apnea treatment as quickly as possible. Sufferers who are looking for a good sleep apnea treatment should select one that works quickly in order to get instant results and relief.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.

Sleep Apnea And Snoring

Of all the snoring related physical ailments, arguably the most severe and ironically least understood is a condition called Sleep Apnea. These two words should be emblazoned in the minds of every snorer, and anyone who lives with or cares about the safety and well being of a snorer.

The word apnea in the term sleep apnea derives from the Greek term for absence of breathing. That, in a nutshell, gives a sense of how dangerous sleep apnea can be; it literally refers to a condition where breathing stops during sleep.

There are two types of sleep apnea:

1) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - This most common form of apnea occurs when throat muscles relax.

2) Central Sleep Apnea - This form of apnea occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Sleep apnea and snoring are directly linked because during snoring the airway of the trachea is constantly subjected to repetitive collapse and obstruction; in fact, it is that collapse and obstruction that leads to the vibration that, ultimately, manifests itself as audible snoring. Obstructive Sleep Apnea thus occurs when, due to that continuous collapse of the airway, breathing actually stops.

Although Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs two to three times as often in older male adults, it can affect young or old, male or female. Even children can have sleep apnea, a problem more common than once thought.

Certain factors can put you more at risk of getting sleep apnea:

Obesity & excess weight: (leading to an enlarged neck and excess soft tissue in the trachea)

Enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils:(airway can become blocked when tonsils or adenoids are too large)

Sex and age: (older men are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women are)


Drinking alcohol: (sedates the throat muscles and causes them to collapse)

Cigarette smoking: (which inflames the upper airway)

While death is obviously possible due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (and subsequent lack of breathing), there are many very serious effects that, while not fatal, are most certainly severe.

Even when it is not fatal, Sleep apnea deprives the body of essential oxygen; and hence, overall blood oxygen levels are reduced and concurrently, carbon dioxide levels rise. This can lead to toxic buildup that can cause heart disease, stroke, and brain damage.


Learn How To Work With Your Sleep Apnea

Are you still tired when you get out of bed every morning, or suffering with headaches and irritability? Does your family think your snoring sounds like a jet engine? If this sounds like you, you could have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is very dangerous, so start finding a treatment regimen immediately.

Stopping bad habits may help with your sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol and smoking are very bad for the condition. Drinking helps depress your respiratory system, causing breathing issues. Cigarettes can hurt your lungs, possibly even causing lung cancer. Dropping both these habits entirely will help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Try your best to use your CPAP machine as much as possible if you get one. Unfortunately, adjusting to this device while sleeping can be hard for some people. Good health over the long term is what is important, and you need to build up the amount of time you use it until you can use it throughout the night. If you find it hard to get used to your CPAP, use it for only 4 hours at a go.

You can both shed unwanted pounds and reduce the effects of sleep apnea with a nutritious and healthy diet. Not everyone is aware of just how significantly bad dietary choices can affect a sleep apnea condition. Studies have shown that people that eat poor quality food have worse apnea than those who are overweight but eat healthier.

Don't drink a lot of alcohol. Drinking alcohol relaxes the muscles of your throat and airway. While this might often be a desirable side effect of drinking, it can also cause sleep apnea. When your throat muscles relax, your airway narrows and causes sleep apnea. Try your best to limit your drinking if you do decide to have alcohol, and try to not have any right before bed.

Consider any alternative you can find to using sleeping pills. Sleeping pills cause your throat muscles to relax, just like alcohol. They also can cause other harmful issues to make your sleep apnea worse. See if your doctor knows of any sleeping medication that doesn't cause respiratory depression.

To help alleviate this condition, you should sleep on your side. A lot of people who have sleep apnea are back sleepers. Your airways become blocked when you sleep on your back. Try to sleep on your side to avoid that. If you move around at night and tend to always wind up on your back, try propping yourself up with pillows.

If you aren't sleeping with a partner each night who can let you know of any irregularities in your sleeping patterns, it can be hard to know if you have this condition. One way to see is to set up a video camera to record yourself as you sleep. The video should also contain audio in order to hear the noises that occur while you're sleeping.

Sleep apnea is serious and can cause various health issues, but it is treatable. Use the tips you have learned from this article to guide you in finding relief. If they're not effective, speak with your doctor immediately concerning other options.

Effects of Sleep Apnea on the Heart

The connection between sleep apnea and heart disease is evolving very rapidly. People with cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke have a high prevalence of sleep apnea. Whether sleep apnea actually causes heart disease is still unclear, but we do know that if you have sleep apnea today, the chance that you will develop hypertension in the future increases significantly.

There are links between sleep apnea and heart disease. When oxygen diminishes in the blood, the levels of carbon dioxide are raised. The increased levels of carbon dioxide signal the brain, telling it to increase the heart rate. The brain reacts by releasing the body's "fight or flight" hormone called epinephrine (adrenaline). The increased circulation of epinephrine increases heart rate and ultimately raises blood pressure.

One challenge in defining the relationship between sleep apnea and heart disease is that people with sleep apnea often have other disease conditions, too. If  people treated with high blood pressure and sleep apnea, or those who have had heart failure and sleep apnea, significant improvement in the measures of blood pressure or heart failure. Sufficient evidence exists to show a cause-and-effect relationship between high blood pressure (a marker for potential heart trouble) and sleep apnea.

This scary list of adverse health outcomes demonstrates the significance of diagnosing sleep apnea in a timely manner, in order to initiate treatment t.  This last comment is actually the point -- fortunately, sleep apnea is a treatable condition.  And you might be surprised that there are different options for treatment.  With the right guidance from qualified experts, successful treatment is readily attainable.

Sleep apnea side effects   can be dangerous and even life threatening if they are left untreated.  If you have sleep apnea it is important to find the right sleep apnea treatment that helps you.  Over 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea and that number is growing.  It is becoming a major problem because of the obesity rate growing.  Over 50% of sleep apnea cases suffer from obesity.  Once again, it is very important to find a treatment for sleep apnea that fits you

Although treatment for OSA varies, the most common method used to  counter the malady is a machine called a CPAP, which delivers Continuous  Positive Airway Pressure while patients sleep. CPAP machines quietly  deliver light air pressure to the breathing passages to keep them open  during sleep. This allows a significantly higher level of oxygen to  enrich the blood, often greatly lowers fatigue levels, and significantly  lowers risk for heart related health issues. Although many patients  expect discomfort or inconvenience from using a CPAP machine, most  report experiencing enhanced relaxation and significantly improved  restfulness and energy levels after using the machine for only a short  time.

So what exactly do they do for surgery?   Well, the most common surgical procedure for sleep apnea is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).  It basically means removing the uvula that hangs in the back of the throat, along with any excess tissue around the soft palate.  At the same time, any residual adenoid or tonsil tissue will be resected, to increase the size of the airway to improve air flow.  This type of surgery is quite painful due to the sensitive nerve fibers in that area, so recovery time is usually about 1 week after surgery.  Your doctor will provide you with medications for pain during this time.

Although the risk of death due to sleep apnea is low, it increases in patients who are also living with heart disease. It is estimated that heart disease patients who also have sleep apnea have 20 times the risk of heart attacks than those without it. Sleep apnea is thought to have played a role in the death of Jerry Garcia, who died in his sleep and reportedly suffered from both sleep apnea and heart disease.

Sleep Apnea Headaches

What is  sleep apnea headaches ? Many people are not really aware they have sleep apnea, mainly because sleep apnea symptoms only occur during sleep. Nevertheless, sleep apnea symptoms lead to certain features which can help point out possible sleep apnea. Certain features of this sleep disorder can help you determine if you really have sleep apnea or not.

The exact cause of headaches associated with sleep apnea is not known. Some people propose that the primary cause of headaches is the repeated oxygen deprivation caused by the condition. Others believe that the increased blood pressure and dilation of blood vessels in the brain, resulting in increased pressure on the brain, is the cause of headaches. Mood disorders have also been considered an important factor in the link between sleep apnea and headaches. Sometimes, overuse of medication to treat chronic headaches becomes a significant cause of morning headaches.

Sleep apnea and headaches are related in  different ways. Headache is the most common TMJ symptom and TMJ dentist will  often diagnose that a patient has a sleep apnea. You will get the headache in  the back of the head below skull. This area is called occipital area.

Having headaches, being tired and sleepy during the day and irritation are also common symptoms of sleep apnea. These  sleep apnea headaches  mainly due to the brain having been deprived of deep sleep, which is necessary for it to relaxed and recharge it. People with sleep apnea also show problems with concentration, thinking, remembering and focusing, especially during work, mostly because of this sleep apnea headaches.

A sleep apnea test is used to help   diagnose sleep apnea  , and to determine its severity, cause and the proper treatment necessary to treat the condition. These sleep apnea tests can be done at home, yet it is always best to have a medical professional present to accurately diagnose the sleep disorder.

No matter which way you look at it, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are strongly connected to the occurrence of daily headaches, especially morning headaches. Chronic morning headaches are rare in the general population, but are much more common in people with sleep apnea. If you have morning headaches, you may be eight times more likely to be a sleep apnea sufferer than the general population.

Although the study was unable to show a connection, a significant amount of people exhibited a headache as a symptom. This meant that a frequent headache upon waking up was a sign that you may have the sleep disorder.

If you have other signs or symptoms such as snoring, grinding your teeth, day time sleepiness, morning headaches, overweight, greater than a 15" neck, diabetes, lack of concentration, memory problems? If yes, then you should talk to your doctor. Sleep apnea is the #1 cause of hypertension.

Remember, Never neglect the sleep apnea symptoms, because if you do you run the risk of many health complications. There are many options for a  sleep apnea treatment , so there is not need to afraid and to much worried about sleep apnea. Just trying to find the best treatment. I hope you can get something useful from this sleep apnea headaches  article.

Clear Your Airway At Night With These Sleep Apnea Tips

It can be overwhelming to hear your doctor inform you that you are afflicted with sleep apnea. Know that it's common to have sleep apnea, and even though it's a serious condition, it is also treatable. Use the information below to help you better understand and manage this disorder.

Excess weight is an issue that plays a negative role in many sleep apnea sufferers' conditions. The obvious solution is to lose the excess weight. Make sure that you stick with a plan that makes sense and combine a low calorie diet with an exercise regimen. Taking carbohydrates out of a diet is something that studies show helps people lose weight.


Are you a drinker or a smoker? Try to rid yourself of these horrible habits. Smoking irritates your air passages, making them narrow. Smoking swells up your airways, while drinking depresses your nervous system and muscles into excess relaxation. This can both cause and exacerbate sleep apnea. Avoid second-hand smoke and do not drink immediately before going to bed.


Get fitted for a specialty made mouth guard. Guards like these are specifically made for assisting sleep apnea patients. If you don't have CPAP, then this guard is an excellent alternative. Also, it's a lot more comfortable wearing this mouth guard while sleeping. Invest into a mouth guard instead of having a loud machine keep others up at night.

Refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages as much as possible, especially at bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the muscles too much. While this may be something you desire, it tends to create the problem of sleep apnea. Alcohol has an effect on throat muscles and it can hurt your body. Try your best to limit your drinking if you do decide to have alcohol, and try to not have any right before bed.

People who have sleep apnea should establish a sleeping schedule. Sleep apnea causes regular interruptions in your ordinary nightly sleep cycle. Getting treatment from a doctor is just one part of the solution. Making sure that you don't disrupt your sleep on your own with a lax sleeping schedule is another part of the solution. Go to sleep and wake up at set times each day, even the weekends, for the best results.

If your sleep apnea requires the use of a CPAP machine, make certain that a medical ID is always with you. If you ever need medical attention in an emergency, it is critical that healthcare providers know that you have this condition and use that machine. The information on the card should mention your sleep apnea and include the full details of the treatment you regularly use.

Sleep apnea symptoms can be worse if you also have allergies or other sinus related issues. Sleep apnea is already robbing you of your ability to breathe well during your sleep. You do not need anything else reducing your ability to get air while you sleep. Maintaining free nasal passages will ensure greater odds of sleeping getting a great night's sleep.

If your current treatment options are not cutting it, speak to a doctor about additional techniques that may be suitable. Some people do not respond to conventional sleep apnea treatment options and consequently, as a last resort, they have to undergo a surgical treatment option, such as removing of the tonsils or adenoids, or enlarging of the airway.

It's no fun to learn that you have sleep apnea. Luckily, this disorder is treatable. Try these sleep apnea tips and begin applying them to your daily life now. There's no reason you can't enjoy a completely healthy life, even if you're suffering from sleep apnea.

Identifying the Types of Sleeping Disorder

Sleep is one of the most essential ways to maintain a sound and normal health and lifestyle. Sleeping helps in keeping the body fit and healthy. However, sleep is not always normal for most people worldwide. In the United States alone, more than 50 million people suffer from different types of sleeping disorders every year. Although the number of sufferers continues to grow each year, medical experts and scientists do not really fully comprehend this type of physiological condition.


A normal amount of sleep varies according to a person’s needs, that also depend on a number of factors such as age. Babies are the ones who require the longest hours for sleeping, averaging from 16 to 18 hours of sleep. Adults, on the other hand, need seven to eight hours of sleep a day. According to the most recent sleep studies, adults who are over 60 years of age are the ones who are diagnosed to have sleeping disorders.

Today, there are nearly 70 types of sleeping disorders that are generally defined into three categories:

   1. Disturbed sleep
   2. Excessive sleep
   3. Lack of sleep

Most sleep disorders are easily treated by means of various medical treatments if conditions are diagnosed correspondingly. Once a diagnosis is given by a doctor, the condition may be categorized either of the three types mentioned above.

   1. Disturbed sleep

A disturbed sleeping condition is related to obstructive sleep apnea, which is known as an interrupted mode of breathing while an individual sleeps. This condition, which mostly triggers adults, may occur due to respiratory or neurological disorders. An individual diagnosed with this condition experiences loud snoring, thus, appearing that he or she is gasping for air. Apart from complications at the nasal passages, the obstructive sleep apnea may also occur due to obesity, alcoholism, and enlarged tonsils.

In sleep apnea, the sleeping cycle is disturbed or interrupted because the person needs to wake up at least 100 times each night to abate the muscles and resume breathing. As the amount of oxygen in the brain decreases, morning problems like headache may eventually occur. People who suffer from this sleep disorder are also susceptible to stroke and heart disease.

   2. Excessive sleep

Narcolepsy is the most common condition under the excessive sleep disorder. In this condition, a person tends to have uncontrollable sleep patterns. The duration of abrupt sleep ranges from minutes to hours. Sleep attacks anytime, anywhere, thus, affecting an individual’s everyday activities, for he or she can fall asleep even while working.

Generally regarded as an inherited sleeping disorder, narcolepsy is also accounted to neurological and brain diseases. People who suffer from this sleeping disorder tend to tire easily and have hallucinations.

   3. Lack of sleep

Insomnia is a common sleeping disorder that is defined as the inability to fall asleep. This condition is experienced by most individuals at some point in their lives. As insomnia significantly affects a person’s life, this condition generally results to stress, unbalanced diet, and emotional issues as sufferers worry and obsess about not getting enough amount of sleep.


Sleep Apnea Effects - Be Warned

Sleep apnea effects on your life and livelihood can be devastating. Such side effects as decreased mental acuity or inattentiveness can have serious consequences on your life or the lives of others if you put yourself in their path and the situation becomes dangerous, as in putting yourself behind the steering wheel of a car and then falling asleep at that same steering wheel.

Sleep apnea affects approximately 18 million people and causes several problems with the people who have it including the two listed above and the most serious of all, death. If you have sleep apnea and know it, you should be treating it with the help of your doctor and/or dentist. If you have sleep apnea and do not know it, you need to get diagnosed as soon as possible so you can start treatment right away.

So how do you know what the sleep apnea effects are? In other words, what are the symptoms?


Sleep apnea means that you actually stop breathing when you are sleeping for at least ten seconds and can occur 30+ times per hour. The length of time you stop breathing can be even longer, maybe even as long as a minute. Think about it, if you stop breathing for a whole minute 30 times an hour, you are in serious trouble. Your blood oxygen level drops and in severe cases you could go into respiratory arrest and become cyanotic, or turn blue.

Every time you stop breathing your brain signals you to wake up to resume breathing normally. You may not wake up fully but when you are out of the REM sleep cycle you are not getting good sleep and you will wake up tired. Sometimes even more tired than when you went to sleep. Sleep apnea makes you work very hard for the little sleep that you do get.

Sleep apnea is characterized by the reason you stop breathing. The sleep apnea we have been discussing is called obstructive sleep apnea and happens because your tongue and the muscles in your neck relax to the point where they block your airway when you are in a deep sleep.

Another form of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea and happens because the brain does not signal the muscles responsible for breathing to initiate a breath. Central sleep apnea causes you to awaken very abruptly and may be accompanied by shortness of breath or night sweats or both. This type of sleep apnea can be especially scary and may make you afraid to even go to sleep. Which makes the situation so much worse.

Like I said, sleep apnea effects on your life can be absolutely devastating. You will have an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke due to the extra work required to get and keep enough oxygen circulating through your body. Treatment is very important and can include a surgical procedure to remove whatever is causing the blockage or a machine and mask to force air into your airway continuously throughout the night.



Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Getting Treatment Is Key

There are too many folks who do not get enough good sleep during the night, and yet very few of them know that sleep disorders might be the cause. Sleep apnea cases are going up every day; it isn't that uncommon of a disorder anymore. If you think you may have this problem, then continue ahead to gain some knowledge about the subject.

Drop some vices to combat sleep apnea. Drinking alcohol and smoking are very bad for the condition. Drinking potentially causes extreme breathing issues because it reduces the ability of your respiratory system to function. Cigarette smoke is full of cancer-causing chemicals which are bad for your lungs. Quitting both of these habits completely will really alleviate your symptoms.


It can be a very serious issue when you have sleep apnea. If you feel some of the symptoms, then you need to consult a physician as quickly as you can. When you have a diagnosis, your doctor may send you to a specialist or set you up with other tests.

Try to sleep on your side at night. Sleeping on your back does not allow enough air to get into your airways. Try to fall asleep on one of your sides to see if your symptoms get better.

Snoring devices may serve your needs with sleep apnea. Snoring can be a sign that a person has sleep apnea, and a doctor can tell the patient whether one of these oral devices will be of help to them. It actually makes sense that your device can assist with the latter if it can help you with the former. Anti-snoring devices help you reduce apnea as you sleep.

Do not lie on your back when you sleep if you have sleep apnea. If you sleep on your back, your air passages may become blocked. Use cushions or pillows to prop yourself up on your side while you sleep.

Your sleep apnea will not just go away by itself without treatment. There are various sleep apnea treatments for various people because no two cases are exactly alike. Treatment options vary depending on the cause. One person will find relief by stopping the habit of smoking and drinking. Another person may find that losing weight is their solution. Some other options include CPAP machines or other devices. Other people may be inclined to opt for surgery where changes may be made to the airway passages. Regardless of the method you use, obtaining some type of treatment is essential to living a higher quality of life with this condition.

You can help lessen the effects of sleep apnea by doing exercises which strengthen the throat muscles. Sleep apnea is commonly caused by the throat becoming obstructed because the soft tissues collapse near the back of your throat. Stronger muscles mean a less likelihood of the the airways becoming blocked.

Learning a wind instrument is recommended as a treatment for sleep apnea. You will like the music and help exercise muscles that can better your breathing. Making these muscles stronger reduces sleep apnea symptoms.

Speak with your doctor about writing you a prescription for a heated humidifier if you have a CPAP machine to sleep. It is much easier to get better sleep and to sleep with your CPAP machine if there is warm and humid air to breathe. If your CPAP machine doesn't have a humidifier, make wearing your mask much easier on yourself by asking for a humidifier prescription from your doctor.

If you do have sleep apnea, finding a treatment plan that works for you is vital. Getting the proper amount of sleep each night is key to being a healthy person. Use the tips you learned from this article to control your sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea and Driving

One of the most common activities most of us do every day is driving. If you have a job, you most likely drive. If you go to school, and you’re older than 16, you probably drive. Unless you live in a big city where public transportation is the norm, you may be driving  hours every day. Some people commute a long distance across sweeping, windy roads. Others stay stuck in traffic for both their morning and evening commutes, honking their horn in frustration as they watch the minutes tick away. One thing is for sure: you shouldn’t drive under the influence of sleep deprivation.

One study noted that drivers with untreated sleep apnea have a higher risk of being involved in a driving accident . The study also indicated that during a series of performance tests, drivers with untreated sleep apnea fared worse than those with higher than legal blood alcohol concentrations for commercial truckers. This research shows that for any drivers with symptoms of sleep apnea, being on the road is a dangerous and potentially fatal situation.

Drowsy driving statistics are scary.  According to the  National Sleep Foundation , over 100,000 accidents and more than 1500 deaths each year result from drowsy driving.  While drowsy driving can be caused by anything that keeps someone from getting enough sleep, people with sleep apnea may be at a higher risk because they routinely do not get enough sleep and as many have not been diagnosed, they may not even realize how often their sleep is disrupted.  This is why raising awareness about both problems and establishing the kind of link between the two that is provided by these guidelines is so important.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), around 28 percent of commercial truck drivers may have obstructive sleep apnea, which is a scary combination. Around 17 percent have mild sleep apnea, while close to 6 percent have a moderate form and almost 5 percent have severe sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) sufferers increase the risk of traffic accidents by seven times. Data from several European countries as well as Australia, Canada and the USA are concordant: OSA has been estimated to be responsible for 5 to 10 % of all motor vehicle accidents.

Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is the result of skeletal muscle tissue losing its tone and collapsing into the airway during sleep. When a person falls asleep, the central nervous system is more relaxed causing the electrical activity to the skeletal muscle to decrease. When the muscle loses its tone, gravity pulls it into the airway causing the person to stop breathing for ten seconds or more. The brain senses a decrease in oxygen and causes an arousal and the person wakes up and takes a breath. When the person falls asleep again, this process can repeat itself up to hundreds of times during the night. The diagnostic instruments at Sleep Care Centers can pick up OSA so that a doctor can diagnose it and treat it, helping to improve the quality of life.

Many sleep apnea patients say they never fall asleep while driving. That may be true. But remember, you don't have to fall asleep to have a crash. You simply have to be inattentive or less alert — and with untreated sleep apnea; you are not as sharp as you should be.

Treating Sleep Apnea

Stopping breathing or shortness of breath causes sleep apnea. It is a very risky syndrome and if you feel you are suffering from this disorder you should immediately seek medical attention. It can be dangerous to not get proper attention for sleep apnea. If the problem persists and you are not getting any treatment, it could result in serious health hazards like heart attack, stroke, an irregular heart beat, impotency, high blood pressure and other heart related diseases.

When a person is suffering from sleep apnea, the upper airways become obstructed. They can be blocked by tissues, large tonsils, or a large tongue. The most common factor behind sleep apnea is the structure of jaw and airway.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea are extreme daytime sleepiness and recurring periods of interrupted breathing. There may be other symptoms of sleep apnea like loud snoring, headaches, being overweight, having high blood pressure and suffering from irritability or a change in personality.

Sleep apnea is dangerous, and it can be fatal in many cases. You should not ignore sleep apnea and get treatment immediately. Weight loss, surgery, dental appliances, and breathing assistance devices are various ways you can treat sleep apnea. The use of a breath assistance device is the most popular and most effective treatment of sleep apnea. These breathing assistance devices help in increasing the air pressure in the airways, which prevents the airways from collapsing. You have to wear this device in the form of a mask that has a small air blower connected through a pipe to the nose, and you must wear this mask when you go to sleep. There is also another type of device which will be useful for those whose tongue is the main source of obstruction. This device is a suction cup that is used to assist the teeth and tongue from closing the airway.

There are different types of surgeries available as treatment for sleep apnea. With surgery, the uvula, the dangling flesh at the back of your mouth, is eliminated and soft palate and pharynx are made tighter. There are also nasal surgeries which are used to improve sleep apnea. There are several jaw surgeries that can treat sleep apnea as they can help in reducing airway blockages.

It is definitely advisable that you seek professional treatment if you are suffering from sleep apnea. There are also several ways in which you can help yourself. If you are overweight, work towards losing some weight. Quitting smoking can help reduce instances of sleep apnea. You should eliminate all alcohol if possible since alcohol worsens sleep apnea. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle you can make living with “sleep apnea” easier.


Sleep Apnea Medication - Guide to Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is thought to be a silent killer with millions of people affected by the condition in the USA alone. The condition is said to affect people of all ages, sex and races alike. Obese people more than 40 years of age are a high risk category and need to take sleep apnea medication if diagnosed with the condition. The treatment may continue life long depending upon your medical status. It should be started based on a thorough assessment of your medical history and analysis of your sleep pattern.

As more and more research is being directed in understanding the causes of sleep disorders, the traditional methods of treating the diseases are giving way to a more scientific approach of dealing with the problem. Needless to say that people are researchers are finding alternate sleep apnea medication to bring about improvement in the life styles of patients and enhance their life span.


Sleep apnea medication can also be used as a bridge therapy where the patients are prescribed the medication during the time; they are upgrading from existing C PAP procedures to a more prolonged use in the night. This may be required to address the sleepiness during the daytime. A number of anti depressant drugs are also found to have some therapeutic values for treating sleep apnea. It is found that some of these drugs reduce the number of times patients have to get up in night due to their medical condition. These medications manipulate the brain chemicals responsible for helping people breathe normally during the night. A lot of research is being done and clinical trials are on before these wonder drugs are available as effective sleep apnea medication.

One golden rule to be followed before taking sleep apnea medication is that you have to make a fair assessment of factors behind sleep deprivation during the night. As this is one of the most common conditions, it may also lead to the wrong diagnosis. Thus lack of sleep due to stress and related factors is not sleep apnea. You may end up being on the wrong side of medication if you do not apply time and effort diagnosing the symptoms and causes. Similar is the case where your sleep deprivation in night is treated as simple case of stress and heartburn when actually you are afflicted with sleep apnea.

Other treatments also have the CPAP machine the industry machine that provides steady positive airway pressure. It includes a humidified air related to a mask that brings the actual into your airways it is worn as you hit the sack. Another sleep apnea medication is sleep apena surgery which will include cutting the higher palate or the uvula behind the throat to widen nasal passages.

Sleep apnea medication is an additional option to complete the treatment for your sleep disorder. Unfortunately, most of the medications are not ideal for you and may have undesirable side effects.

Sleep aids  range from sleep medication to devices and even surgeries. But besides these, there are certain steps you can take by changing your personal habits to see if there is any help in treating this condition. You may be surprised to learn that more often than not, personal habits negatively contribute to some extent.

Sleep Apnea -- Obesity -- Lose That Fat Now

If you find it difficult to get a good nights rest it's possible that you suffer from sleep apnea obesity. Everybody needs a good nights rest to function properly and  be active. This is a condition when not breathing (apnea) lasts for more than 10 seconds while sleeping.

If you or someone you love has sleep apnea, obesity may be a contributing factor. Maybe you are kept awake by the horrendous snoring, snorting or get worried because sometimes your spouse sounds like they are choking. These are all signs and symptoms of sleep apnea and you should encourage them to go to the doctor or get yourself to the doctor if this is you.

The way obesity comes into play with sleep apnea is that the fatty tissue that has built up around the neck affects the neck muscles and soft palate and even the little flap in the back of your throat called the uvula and when you go to sleep all the muscles relax and the fatty tissue relaxes also and closes off your airway. This is dangerous because at some point you may just stop breathing all together.

This is called respiratory failure and it is fatal. This does not happen frequently but it does happen, the best advice you can get is to get the treatment you need so you do not have to worry about it happening to you. Talk to your doctor before it is too late. Sudden death can occur at any time.

The next best piece of advice I can give you about sleep apnea obesity is to lose the excess weight. did you know if you lose just 10% of your total body fat you can decrease the seriousness of your sleep apnea by 30% and it just goes up from there. The more you lose the better off you will be and when you get to your ideal weight or even just meet your weight loss goal you may not have sleep apnea anymore.

How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Well, there are ways to tell that you might if you do not have someone to tell you you snore. Do you ever wake up and your mouth is so dry you feel like you have to pry your tongue from the roof of your mouth with a pry bar? Are you always tired? Do you need more coffee than usual to stay awake during the day? Could be sleep apnea is affecting the quality of your sleep and your life.

If you and your doctor agree that you may have sleep apnea, he or she will refer you to the respiratory care center of the clinic or hospital and get you fitted for a CPAP machine and mask. This will take some getting used to because you will have to wear the mask when you are sleeping. If you also make a lifestyle change and start to lose the weight you probably will not have to use the machine for too long.

The next best piece of advice I can give you about sleep apnea obesity is to lose the excess weight. Did you know if you lose just 10% of your total body fat you can decrease the seriousness of your sleep apnea by 30% and it just goes up from there. The more you lose the better off you will be and when you get to your ideal weight or even just meet your weight loss goal you may not have sleep apnea anymore.


How To Get To Sleep Easily Every Night



Millions of people around the world wake up tired each morning despite eight hours sleep, and they simply chalk it up to growing older. The mistake in believing it's simply age related can mean many more years of being unnecessarily tired, when the answer is sleep apnea. Read this article to see if you fit the sleep apnea profile.

Consider elevating the head of your bed if you suffer from sleep apnea. As you sleep, gravity is constantly pulling on your muscles and causing your airway to close. If you elevate the head of your bed a bit, the slight incline makes it easier for your body to maintain your airway when you are sleeping.

Try your best to maintain a regular sleeping schedule. When your body gets into a customary sleeping cycle, you will find yourself getting a better night's sleep, and you will also be more relaxed. Several studies have shown that apnea episodes decrease when a person is not sleep deprived or stressed out.

Exercise your throat. Make faces. Stick out your tongue. Rotate your jaw. It might feel a bit silly, but it can actually help people who suffer from sleep apnea. Doing these things exercises the muscles your body needs to moderate its breathing. Studies have shown that doing these exercises a few times a day can make a huge difference.

Consider putting yourself on a strict bedtime schedule and routine, if sleep apnea is keeping you from a good night's sleep. Doing the same things at the same time may help condition your mind and body to better sleeping, and if you suffer from sleep apnea, you need all the help you can get!

If you have sinus problems or allergies, find yourself some treatment options. Sleep apnea causes enough difficulty breathing on its own. You must eliminate anything that might obstruct your airway as you sleep. Try and clear your airways as much as possible, and keep your nasal problems to a minimum.

An excellent way to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea is to prop up your head and body. If you can get your head at least 4 inches off of the mattress or elevate your torso from the waist up, you will reduce your symptoms. Try using a foam wedge or cervical pillow when sleeping to do this.

Did you know there are exercises that you can do to reduce your sleep apnea? Throat exercises are a great way to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. Try pressing the tongue against the floor of your mouth. Use a toothbrush to brush the tongues tops and sides. Repeat this exercise three times a day for five repetitions.

If you have sleep apnea, and you have to have a sleep study, considering taking your pillow from home with you. It can be very difficult to sleep in the sleep lab. You are in an unfamiliar place in a strange bed. You have lots of wires, and electrodes attached to you. Having your own pillow can help to relax you and make it easier to fall asleep.

If any of the information shared here sounds like it fits your troubles, it is time to do something about it. There is no need to suffer month after month. There is a solution for you and it's as close as speaking up and getting a diagnosis. You deserve a good night's rest!

Sleep Apnea and Diabetes

Sleep apnea and diabetes are two unfortunate diseases for which there is no cure. Both medical issues, however, can be controlled and treated. There is no concrete evidence that proves that sleep apnea and diabetes are directly related, but there is a lot of evidence to support the idea that the two are linked. As more medical research is conducted, the links are becoming closer and more obvious.

The connection between Sleep Apnea and Diabetes is real and scary. Studies published in the European Respiratory Journal and Journal of Internal Medicine tell us that up to 40% of people with Sleep Apnea will have Diabetes. Other studies show that up to 50% of those with type 2 Diabetes have Sleep Apnea. Essentially, Sleep Apnea causes intermittent shortages of oxygen in the body and fragmentation of sleep, which in turn causes physiologic stress which then wreaks havok on glucose metabolism and the development of insulin resistance.

For a while, most observations about sleep apnea and diabetes were that they often occurred simultaneously in those who were already obese, a condition common to both sleep apnea and diabetes.  However, further investigation of the two has found that there is likely a direct relationship between them.

It has been proven that people suffering from both sleep apnea and diabetes are more resistant to insulin treatment if the sleep apnea is untreated. Many times by treating sleep apnea and providing the patient with restful sleep the need for insulin supplementation decreases. Insulin resistance decreases. According to studies cited by ResMed, "Insulin responsiveness increased 28% in patients with type 2 diabetes after 4 months of CPAP/BiPap therapy." It is critical to talk to your physician about any sleep problems.

CPAP, also spelled Ci-PAP or C-PAP, is highly effective remedy for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes. Not only can it be used with other treatments, the pressure levels adjust more flexibly to the individual's breathing patterns, creating more comfort. In addition, it has been found to improve blood sugar levels and reduce the complications from diabetes, such as kidney and heart disease.

Many people also have physical problems that awaken them from sleep, including sleep apnea and diabetes. (Diabetics often make several trips to the bathroom during the night.) Sleep apnea, often seen in overweight and obese people, is a condition of waking up repeatedly throughout the night. Often the person doesn’t realize that he’s waking during the night, but he’ll feel tired in the morning. Significant snoring usually accompanies this condition. So if you’re tired and gaining weight, it’s important to see your doctor to make sure you don’t medical problems.

People who suffer from sleep apnea and diabetes should consult with doctors to determine which machine is more suitable for them. CPAP may be preferable for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, especially for those also suffering from diabetes. However, more severe case of sleep apnea may benefit more from using the BiPAP machine. The only way to know for sure is to meet with physician who can professionally designate a treatment.

Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy

Pregnancy should be an exciting and joyous experience. Being well-informed on the dangers associated with Sleep Apnea and pregnancy can help prevent the occurrence of serious complications in the future. Expecting mothers should find a medical professional that they and totally comfortable sharing the intimate details of their pregnancy with. The best way to protect against pregnancy complications is to be educated on the risks.

Pregnant women are likely to snore because of an increase in their level of progesterone. The hormone progesterone can cause the airways to clog, as well as cause congestion in the nasal passages. As the baby grows, a pregnant women's diaphragm tends to rise, reducing her lung capacity. The combination of additional swelling during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and normal weight gain also plays a role.

Breathing during sleep may change during pregnancy: as a pregnancy unfolds, there may be a clear progression from soft to loud  snoring , and even pauses or disruptions of breathing that characterize a condition called  sleep apnea . Sleep apnea as it occurs in pregnancy has clearly-recognized risk factors, symptoms, and treatments.

The ability to focus and concentrate during the day relies upon sleeping enough during the night. Pregnant women are very prone to waking up during the night and pregnant women with Sleep Apnea wake up a lot. The brain is not able to repair the damage that it endures during the day and cannot function properly during waking hours. Pregnant women have to be very aware of their physical activity; slight, seemingly insignificant movements can cause serious pregnancy complications. When an expecting mother is not able to keep her focus during the day, she is endangering her health and the health of her baby. Sleep Apnea patients who experience frequent arousals during the night often experience dangerous accidents due to their lack of focus.

Studies are showing that sleep apnea and snoring is very common in pregnant women. During pregnancy, the lack of oxygen can become a very big problem for both the mother and the unborn baby. Many studies are researching this myth and finding the connection between sleep apnea and small birth weight. Being pregnant is stressful enough for some, and they do not need any added problems to deal with.

Snoring during pregnancy may be prevented by sleeping on one's side. Doctor Fung said that pregnant women lying on their sides enables faster breathing and prevents the airways from collapsing. An alternative is to use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy to help keep the airways open and stop snoring. Visit our Snoring 101 article section [LINK] to learn about snoring remedies for expecting mothers, including homeopathic and natural remedies for snoring.

Bear in mind, If you’re pregnant, and you can’t seem to maintain your  energy  levels, make sure that you meet with your doctor. Being a healthy and proactive mother will help ensure a healthy baby. .

Sleep Apnea and Weight Gain

When you hear sleep apnea and weight gain mentioned in the same context, you are bound to feel a bit confused. After all, sleep apnea is a serious type of sleep disorder, whereas weight gain has everything to do with your body weight. How are they linked? You might be in for a surprise to learn that not only are sleep apnea and weight gain related, but sleep apnea and weight loss have close links.

Sleep apnea and weight gain are a vicious cycle. Being overweight is a major cause of sleep apnea and sleep apnea can lead to further weight gain. Being sleep deprived leads to a hormonal imbalance in the body that triggers overeating. Plus, being sleep deprived can make people feel listless throughout the day, preventing them from getting exercise which leads to weight gain as well.

It has been proven that 50% of people who have the sleep disorder are also obese. Obesity causes the condition. Therefore, weight loss has been one of the most effective treatments for the condition.

One of the number one causes of weight gain is stress and the hormones that come with it, which is why   sleep apnea and weight gain   have a familiar relationship.  When someone suffers from sleep apnea it puts stress on the body which causes unexpected weight gain.  The lack of sleep and interrupting of sleep causes your stress hormones (cortisol) to kick in and one of  the side of effects of the body's stress hormones is weight gain.  Having sleep apnea increases your chances of weight gain.  This is just one of the bad side effects to having obstructive sleep apnea.  Lack of sleep is one of the biggest causes to gaining weight and other health issues.

Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms decrease with weight loss and behavioral interventions. Patients who have obstructive sleep apnea are at higher risk for a range of health concerns. A recent study found that patients with sleep apnea who lost weight saw their symptoms improve. In fact, about 1 in 5 of the patients who lost weight no longer had sleep apnea 4 years after the study began. Ask your doctor how to jump start your weight loss today.

One of the first recommendations for treating sleep apnea is immediate weight loss, as without it, no viable relief can be provided to the patient. Over and above the usual diet regulations and physical workouts, patients are also recommended various sleep apnea exercises including tongue curling, gum chewing, etc, to tone up and reduce the fat tissues of organs directly involved with breathing.

Remember, People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from a serious illness called  sleep apnea . Sleep apnea patients wake up many times during the night, often without realizing, frequently due to a blocked airway. The airway is often blocked by the excess tissue around the neck and throat region, which is common in overweight people.

Sleep apnea treatment varies according to severity of the condition, the location of the obstruction and the overall health of the patient. If deviated septum is the root cause behind sleep apnea, doctors usually contemplate sleep apnea surgery and somnoplasty procedure is the surgery of choice.

Sleep Apnea Definition - 3 Types Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea definition is a sleep disorder characterized by the stoppage of breathing while sleeping from 10 to 60 seconds and gasping for breath or snorting or snoring when breathing is resumed.

There are three types of sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea, and Complex Sleep Apnea. Each are caused by different factors but both can lead to serious complications up to and including death.

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by the tongue and muscles of the throat relaxing to the point of blocking the airway during sleep possibly caused by obesity. Men over the age of 40 who are considered overweight or obese are the most affected by this type of sleep apnea. This is not to say that women cannot also be afflicted with the same disorder it is just more prevalent in men.

Central sleep apnea definition is characterized by a defect in the respiratory center in the brain being unable to transmit the correct signals to the muscles responsible for breathing to initiate a breath.

Some people can suffer from a combination of these two types and this is called Complex Sleep Apnea. Anyone of any age can be affected by sleep apnea, even children. Premature babies are most likely to be subject to sleep apnea because their lung function is impaired due to being premature.

The premature infant is usually sent home with a device called an apnea monitor and is kept on the monitor until approximately two weeks after true gestational age is reached and their doctor deems it safe for them to be removed from monitoring.

If you suspect your spouse has sleep apnea, watch them for a few nights in a row and record what you observe. Snoring is not always caused by sleep apnea but can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea and that if it gets worse or is loud enough to wake the dead, you should consult your doctor about.

Typical sufferers of sleep apnea actually stop breathing frequently throughout the night with as many as 30 episodes or more with gasps or snorts heard when breathing resumes. Keep an ear open to how many times this happens during a one hour period and also if the way they are breathing wakes them up frequently. Night sweats are a frequent occurrence with people with sleep apnea, especially complex sleep apnea.

Also as a part of your record, note how your spouse feels during the day. Are they tired, irritable, impatient, feel depressed or have frequent mood swings during the day? Do they wake with a headache or dry, sore throat? If they do this probably means they are not getting good rest during the night and should see their doctor to talk about sleep apnea and possibly enter into a sleep study to confirm or rule out sleep apnea.

Treatment for sleep apnea may include a CPAP machine that you wear at night, a mouth guard, or in the most severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea, surgery may be needed. Talk to your doctor about your sleep apnea definition to find out what your best option is.