What’s Sleep Apnea And Snoring ?

Sleep Apnea And Snoring

One of the most severe conditions that can be related to snoring is that of sleep apnea. Snoring is commonly a symptom of the dangerous sleep apnea condition and anyone who is a chronic snorer, should be assessed at some point to either rule out or confirm the existence of sleep apnea. This article discusses some of the main points you will need to know about sleep apnea and snoring.

Sleep apnea is extremely dangerous. The word apnea is derived from a Greek term that means absence of breathing. A person with sleep apnea will literally stop breathing whilst they are asleep. That person may or may not be aware that there body is doing this, so if you are the partner of a snorer, it is important to keep an eye out for the telltale signs of sleep apnea.

There are two main types of this condition. The first os Obstructive Sleep Apnea which occurs when the throat muscles relax so much that the person’s airway obstructs for periods of time. This is the most common type. The second type is Central Sleep Apnea which occurs when the brain does not send the right signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Sleep apnea and snoring have a direct link. When a person is snoring, their airways are constantly collapsing and obstructing. This collapsing and obstructing culminates in the vibrations that we can hear as snoring. When the airways continuously collapse like this, it can lead to a complete obstruction and breathing may stop completely.

Sleep apnea is predominantly more common in older adult males. It can however affect everyone, young and old, male or female. It is also unfortunately becoming more common in children.

Risk factors for sleep apnea include being overweight. People who are obese are especially at risk. The excess weight that they are carrying around their neck and chest only serves to increase their chances of obstructing their airways as they sleep.

Other risk factors include enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils. These can block the airways completely, however this situation is quite easily rectified with simple surgery. Drinking alcohol adds to the risk because alcohol has relaxant qualities which relax the already susceptible throat muscles. Cigarette smoking is another risk factor due to the fact that this practice inflames the upper airway, again contributing to a higher risk of developing sleep apnea.

Correct diagnosis of sleep apnea involves a few tests. At first the nose, throat and mouth is thoroughly assesed to rule out any obvious obstruction causes such as nasal polyps. From there a sleep study will be conducted. This type of study monitors your body and what it does while you are asleep. It includes measurements of blood pressure, brain activity and oxygen levels and many more observations. From these measurements a diagnosis can be made and the severity of your condition determined.

Treatment of sleep apnea is dependent on your severity level of sleep apnea. It may just require avoiding alcohol and sleeping tablets. For more severe cases, a machine known as a CPAP (continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine may be required. This consists of a mask connected to a machine that will deliver a strong flow of air into the airways to keep them open for the duration of the sleep time.