Sound Sleep Guide

Sleep apnea is possibly the most commonly seen sleep disorder and affects in the region of 18,000,000 Americans. A sleeping disorder which is characterized by interrupted breathing while sleeping, it is also without doubt the most dangerous of all sleeping disorders because it starves the brain of critical oxygen and occasionally proves fatal.

There are two very different types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is essentially a neurological condition in which breathing is broken because of signals sent out by the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is essentially a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by too much tissue or as a result of the unusual collapse or relaxation of the muscles around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are effectively the same with repeated interruptions to the breathing that starve the brain of oxygen and place sufferers at greater risk from such things as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

Regrettably, diagnosing sleep apnea can be difficult because snoring, which is one of its commonest symptoms and frequently leads to sleep apnea being called the snoring disease, is also often seen as a symptom of various medical conditions. Snoring is certainly normally present with sleep apnea as the brain counters a lack of oxygen by awakening the sufferer sufficiently to restart breathing and this usually produces snoring.

This frequent awakening throughout the night also results in a poor quality of sleep and it is quite common for sleep apnea sufferers to get up in the morning feeling even more tired than they were when they went to bed. This also results in a feeling of sheer exhaustion during the course of the day and an overwhelming wish to sleep.

However, tiredness resulting from a poor quality of sleep is just part of the problem and a variety of other symptoms will also generally be seen including headaches in the morning, a lack of memory and a problem in maintaining concentration.

Left untreated the increasing exhaustion from sleep apnea can lead to major psychological difficulties starting with simple tetchiness and moving on to depression with clear changes in both mood and behavior.

Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea can be treated and, provided the problem is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment can often be fairly simple. For instance, mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea caused by nasal congestion can generally be treated with nothing more than a course of decongestants. Likewise, many cases of sleep apnea which are not too serious may be treated with the use of a mask that is worn during sleep and that delivers air at a constant pressure in order to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most severe cases surgery might be necessary and can be very effective, although it may also lead to numerous complications and must be considered with care.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about sleep apnea is that because it carries the potential risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to use sleeping pills or to take other types of artificial sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies can without doubt provide an effective complement to prescribed treatments and herbal remedies which are designed to improve both the duration and quality of sleep can be helpful in the management of the excessive daytime sleepiness often brought on by sleep apnea. Also, such things as chromatherapy, aromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help in reducing the anxiety and insomnia that come with sleep apnea.