Sleep apnea is whenever you encounter 1 or far more pauses in breathing (apnea) or abnormally low or shallow breathing (hypopnea) even though sleeping. These pauses may possibly last for seconds or up to few minutes & may occur as few as 5 times to up to 30 times (or more) within the length of 1 hour. Sleep apnea statistics show roughly 20% adults are victims, however only 10% of these are diagnosed.
Even though a standard disorder, it often goes undiagnosed due to the not enough recognizable symptoms. This is one of the explanations why many people who go through from sleep apnea do not realize that they have this problem. The lack of obvious symptoms & the fact that it occurs only during sleep, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea might typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea could be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, is brought on by the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, one of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects around 4% of men & 2% of women, with men far more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is far more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the much less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This could be present in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or may possibly be on some type of medication. If it's not related to any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most frequent complaint among people experiencing any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation could also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it may result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea can be recognized by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. Another solution is oximetry which measures the heart beat rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are numerous treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very few undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition could have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
Even though a standard disorder, it often goes undiagnosed due to the not enough recognizable symptoms. This is one of the explanations why many people who go through from sleep apnea do not realize that they have this problem. The lack of obvious symptoms & the fact that it occurs only during sleep, also makes it difficult for a doctor to detect it during routine examinations. A family member or bed partner would be most likely to recognize this condition, since an episode of sleep apnea might typically end with choking sound or a snort before normal breathing resumes.
Sleep apnea could be of three types: Obstructive, Central or Complex - which is a combination of the other two types.
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, is brought on by the collapse or blockage of the walls of soft tissue in the airway, at the level of the throat. Hence, one of the most evident signs of OSA is snoring caused by air squeezing through the narrow collapsed airway. OSA affects around 4% of men & 2% of women, with men far more likely to develop this condition before the age of 50. The risk equalizes after age 50 & is far more common among obese individuals. 30 - 50% heart disease patients & 60% of stroke patients are noted to have OSA.
Central sleep apnea is the much less common form & happens when the imbalance in the brain stops it from sending signals or sends incorrect ones to the muscles that control breathing. This could be present in people who suffer from certain medical conditions or may possibly be on some type of medication. If it's not related to any other disease, it is called Idiopathic central sleep apnea.
The most frequent complaint among people experiencing any form of apnea is daytime sleepiness & fatigue. Sleep deprivation could also lead to lack of concentration, increased chances of hypertension, poor reflexes & raised risk of accidents. An occurrence of apnea lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and in extreme instances, if the apnea is long enough to cause severe lack of oxygen, it may result in brain damage or even sudden death.
Sleep apnea can be recognized by a polysomnography or 'sleep study'. Another solution is oximetry which measures the heart beat rate & oxygen content in blood & analyzes the data for signs of reduction in blood oxygen levels. Once detected, there are numerous treatment methods including both surgical & non surgical options, however very few undergo treatment which is surprising considering the adverse effects this condition could have ... the least of which is a satisfying night's sleep!
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This above material is a general introduction to this subject and if you will be looking for more information click Sleep Apnea Statistics or you can find further articles on this subject here Sleep Apnea Tests.
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