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Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that can be serious. In sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets very shallow. Each pause in breathing typically lasts 10 to 20 seconds or more. These pauses can occur 20 to 30 times or more an hour.

The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea. That means you are unable to get enough air through your mouth and nose into your lungs. When that happens, the amount of oxygen in your blood may drop. Normal breaths resume with a snort or choking sound. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

When your sleep is interrupted throughout the night, you can be drowsy during the day. People with sleep apnea are at higher risk for car crashes, work-related accidents and other medical problems. If you have it, it is important to get treatment.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Sleep Apnea on Wikipedia

'''Sleep apnea''' (alternatively '''sleep apnoea''') is a sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. It is a kind of dyssomnia.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Most people with sleep apnea have ''obstructive'' apnea, in which the person stops breathing during sleep due to airway blockage. Sufferers usually resume breathing within a few seconds, but periods of as long as sixty seconds are not uncommon in serious cases. It is more common amongst people who snoring, 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 a patent (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 (Mortimore & Douglas, 1997). 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. Recurrent airway obstruction gives rise to the obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome, the most common category of sleep-disordered breathing, with 2% of female and 4% of male subjects meeting the minimal diagnostic criteria for OSA of at least 10 apneic events per hour. An "event" is characterised by complete closure of the upper airway for at least 10 seconds, wherein airflow is prevented despite continued respiratory efforts (American Academy of Sleep Medicine Task Force, 1999).
''Patent airway vs. occluded airway (Bass, 2003)'' These recurrent episodes of airway obstruction are associated with asphyxia, ...   [ Read More ]

External Resources

CPAP Solutions - Providing public awareness and education regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea, while giving patients an affordable solution to purchasing equipment and supplies in a secure environment.

CPAP Deals - Canadian supplier of CPAP products for the treatment of Sleep Apnea. Heated humidifiers, masks, software and accessories.

CPAP Depot - CPAP equipment and supplies, obstructive sleep apnea information, bipap, OSA.

CPAP.net - Medical equipment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Audio Sleep - Help heal sleep apnea and sleeping disorders through guided meditations and visualization.

SleepNet - Manufactures and distributes sleep apnea disorder products, including the Phantom nasal mask and the IQ.

CPAP-Direct.com - Supplies designed to assist with snoring, and obstructional sleep apnea. Includes headgear, humidifiers and respironics.

CPAPnow - A source for CPAP supplies, machines, humidifiers, masks, headgear and accessories for people with sleep apnea.

Silensor Anti-Snoring System - Manufacturer of appliance to prevent sleep apnea and snoring. Includes information for patients and dentists.

Stowood Scientific Instruments - Medical equipment distributor for sleep apnea equipment.

Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Sleep Disorders

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