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Introduction To The Sleep Lab - Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

If you’re snoring loud enough to wake up yourself and your partner, then this could be a sign of sleep apnea syndrome. This sleep disorder occurs when the upper airway is blocked by the narrowing of the respiratory passages. However, sleep apnea can have a serious impact on your health if it’s left untreated. Besides daytime sleepiness, people with sleep apnea can also suffer from hypertension, depression and even heart disease. In this article, we’ll explain how this sleep disorder works and what you can do to get a better night’s rest.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of apnea and is due to an obstruction in the throat during sleep. The narrowing of the upper airway can be a result of several factors including inherent physical characteristics, excess weight, and alcohol consumption before sleep. Central sleep apnea is caused by a delay in the signal from the brain to breath. With both obstructive and central apnea you must wake up briefly to breathe, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. Usually there is no memory of these brief awakenings.

Sleep apnea syndrome can lead to life threatening illnesses if it’s not treated properly. Consequently, it’s important to know the signs. Loud snoring and gasping are the most common symptoms. Patients also frequently complain of excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches, night sweats, and having to go to the bathroom several times during the night. The side effects of sleep apnea range from mild to severe and include high blood pressure, depression, difficulty concentrating and reduced libido. More severe cases can lead to heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeat and heart disease. In addition to the health impact, sleep deprivation can impact your life socially.

A sleep test, called polysomnography is usually done in a sleep disorder center to diagnose sleep apnea. Mild cases of sleep apnea syndrome are usually treated by some behavioral changes like losing weight or sleeping on your side. There are also mouth devices that can help keep the airway open by bringing the jaw forward, elevating the soft palate or preventing the tongue from falling back into the airway and blocking breathing. Moderate to severe sleep apnea is usually treated with a CPAP mask and a CPAP machine. This machine blows air into your nose via a nose mask, keeping the airway open and unobstructed. Some people have facial deformities that may cause the sleep apnea. There are several other surgical apnea treatments like removing excess tissue to clear the airway, moving the tongue forward, and moving the upper and lower jaw forward.

Using a CPAP mask and machine can take some getting used to. Some patients complain of nasal congestion, dry mouth, claustrophobia and nose irritations where the mask sits. If the machine is properly maintained, these symptoms should soon pass. Before long, you’ll be able to sleep peacefully and enjoy a better quality of life.

Do not let sleep disorders destroy your health as well as your relationships. Numerous couples have been driven to sleep in separate bedrooms because one of the partners had severe snoring problems. Snoring is a sign of a health problem and if it is bad enough, can be life threatening. There are some people who need to sleep with special breathing machines to force oxygen into their lungs. A sleep disorder can be extremely serious. If you are an individuals that has chronic difficulty sleeping, feel excessively exhausted no matter how many hours of sleep you have or have people protesting in regards to your snoring, you need to get information. Discover that information by clicking here:

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