The Big Question: What is Sleep Apnea?
One of the most commonly occurring sleep conditions today is sleep apnea. However, even though it is alarmingly common, not many people are even actually aware of what sleep apnea is and the signs and symptoms that are associated with it. Even fewer people are aware that children can develop sleep apnea, and that it can be potentially life threatening if left undiagnosed or is not properly treated.
What Is That Noise?
Before you can understand anything about the condition, you really have to understand what sleep apnea is. When one asks the question of what is sleep apnea, one of the first things that should be known is that it will not go away on its own. You need to see a doctor.
Sleep apnea is a condition that is characterized by temporary breathing interruptions during sleep. The pauses in breathing may occur anywhere from dozes or even hundreds of times during a single night's sleep, and the sufferer usually is not aware of them. In fact, it is often their partner or other loved one who discovers the problem.
Also in response to the question of what is sleep apnea, one should understand that there are two different types of sleep apnea that one can experience. The first and most common is obstructive sleep apnea, and this form occurs when throat muscles relax. The second form is central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain is not sending proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
Treatment
Of course another major response to the question of what is sleep apnea involves treatment. There are actually a few available treatments for this condition, and for milder cases of sleep apnea your doctor may recommend something as simple as lifestyle changes. This includes things such as quitting smoking or excessive drinking, and losing weight if necessary.
There are also more serious forms of treatment, such as CPAP therapy, a breathing machine, which works effectively for moderate to severe sleep apnea. The CPAP machine delivers air pressure through a mask that is placed over the nose during sleep. This is only recommended for more serious cases of sleep apnea, and is usually only used when other methods have been tried and failed.
Remember to work closely with your doctor when dealing with a condition such as this, so that they can keep an eye on your progress and make sure that you are making improvement as necessary.
