Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder exhibited during sleep, characterized by periods of abnormal breathing cessation from 10-seconds to minutes. These periods of apnea can be repetitious from 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Daytime cognizance is impacted with memory difficulties, excessive, debilitating, chronic fatigue and decreased reaction time, resulting in accidents, inattentiveness and decreased work productivity.

There are three forms of apnea. Obstructive (OSA), which is the most common occurrence when muscular relaxation creates airway blockage. Central (CSA), occurs when your brain does not send the proper signals to the musculature controlling breathing. Complex, which is a combination/mixture of OSA and CSA. Some correlating factors that can be contributory are obesity, chronic respiratory-system disease, and central nervous system disorders, such as brain tumor, viral brain infection or stroke.

The symptoms with this somnific disorder are chronic daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), snoring with obstructive cause, observed cessations in breathing seen in CSA, dry mouth/sore throat or morning headache upon awakening, abrupt, gasping awakenings with shortness of breath, and difficulty maintaining an ongoing sleep state. Behavioral effects can exhibit with lack of motivation, moodiness, and aggressiveness that impact social and work status. Consultation with a medical professional is recommended with any symptoms of episodic, breathing disturbances.

Risks increase with being male, stress, including anxiety and depression. High-blood pressure, cardiovascular or arteriovascular disease or a narrowed airway place individuals at risk. Obesity, large neck circumference measured at beyond 17-inches, family history, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive alcohol, mind-altering drugs, aging, senility and hypothyroidism increase the risk of disorders related to apnea.

Some possible complications are the direct result of excessive fatigue that occurs with apnea that can lead to accidents while driving, or inattentiveness creating hazards during manual labor or when operating machinery. Permanent brain damage or death can result from recurrent episodes of inadequate oxygen to the brain. Heartbeat irregularities and congestive heart failure can be initiated or worsened with episodic lack of oxygen over a period of time.

Diagnostic measures include observation of symptoms by someone close to you, medical history and exam by a physician, laboratory studies that measure oxygen in the blood, chest-wall movement and nasal air flow. Usually, a brain wave study via electroencephalogram (EEG) is performed, in addition to overnight studies known as a polysomnogram, done in a controlled, laboratory environment for confirmed diagnosis.

Treatment is dependent on the severity of the condition, health problems and daytime functioning. Treatments range from a prescription dental appliance to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), where the patient wears a mask over the nose and mouth when sleeping, while a small air-compressor forces air into the nasal passages maintaining an open airway. Treatment may include surgery, such as tonsillectomy or enlarging the larynx.

Treatment measures, other than surgery or weight loss in obese patients, aim at controlling sleep apnea rather than curing it. Medication is sometimes prescribed for a small number of patients in an effort to help control daytime sleepiness. Lifetime compliance to therapy measures is usually the norm.

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