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What is Sleep apnea?
Most alternative medicines for sleep apnea have not been well studied. Acupuncture has shown some benefit, but also needs more study. Although it may be used in conjunction with standard treatments, acupuncture should not replace them. Talk to your doctor about any alternative treatment approaches you're considering.
Read more on www.mayoclinic.com
Also known as apnea, sleep, Sleep Disordered Breathing, Sleep-Disordered Breathing, Sleep Apnea Syndrome, sleep apnea, obstructive, Sleep Apnea Syndromes, sleep apnea, central
Sleep apnea information from trusted sources:
Sleep apnea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sleep apnea (or sleep apnoea in British English) is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing, ... Read more on
en.wikipedia.org
Sleep Apnea Treatments
Oct 5, 2010 ... Learn about the various treatment options for sleep apnea. Read more on
www.webmd.com
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night's sleep Read more on
www.mayoclinic.com
Central sleep apnea
Central sleep apnea is when you repeatedly stop breathing during sleep because the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing. See also: Obstructive sleep apnea Sleep disorders Read more on
www.nlm.nih.gov
American Sleep Apnea Association
Information on reducing injury, disability, and death from sleep apnea. Read more on
www.sleepapnea.org
Apnea
Everyone has brief pauses in breathing called apnea - even your child. Usually these brief stops in breathing are completely normal. Read more on
kidshealth.org
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which a person has episodes of blocked breathing during sleep. Read more on
www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com
Sleep apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition which causes interruptions in breathing during sleep. Read more on
www.nhs.uk
HealthyChildren.org - Sleep Apnea Detection
Jun 7, 2010 ... American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discusses sleep apnea and how it can be treated in children. Read more on
www.healthychildren.org
Sleep apnea symptoms
One of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea is loud and chronic ( ongoing) snoring. Pauses may occur in the snoring. Read more on
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Contents
Causes
Causes of obstructive sleep apnea Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. These muscles support the soft palate, the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils and the tongue.
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Complications
Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition. Complications may include: Cardiovascular problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) can be up to two to three times greater than if you don't. The more severe your sleep apnea, the greater the risk of high blood pressure. If there's underlying heart disease, these multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from a cardiac event.In contrast, central sleep apnea usually is the result, rather than the cause, of heart...
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www.mayoclinic.com
Lifestyle and home remedies
In many cases, self-care may be the most appropriate way for you to deal with obstructive sleep apnea and possibly central sleep apnea. Try these tips: Lose excess weight. Even a slight loss in excess weight may help relieve constriction of your throat. Sleep apnea may be cured in some cases by a return to a healthy weight. If you don't already have a weight-loss program, talk to your doctor about the best course of action for weight loss. Avoid alcohol and medications such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. These relax the muscles in the back of your throat, interfering with breathing.Sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back. Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and...
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www.mayoclinic.com
Preparing for your appointment
If it's suspected that you have sleep apnea, you're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a sleep specialist.
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www.mayoclinic.com
Risk factors
Sleep apnea may occur if you're young or old, male or female. Even children can have sleep apnea. But certain factors put you at increased risk: Excess weight. Fat deposits around your upper airway may obstruct your breathing. However, not everyone who has sleep apnea is overweight. Thin people develop the disorder, too. Neck circumference. The size of your neck may indicate whether or not you have an increased risk of sleep apnea. That's because a thick neck may narrow the airway and may be an indication of excess weight. A neck circumference greater than 17.5 inches (44 centimeters) is associated with an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea. High blood pressure (hypertension). Sleep...
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www.mayoclinic.com
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making the type of sleep apnea more difficult to determine. The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include: Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia); Loud snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea; Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep; Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which more likely indicates central sleep apnea; Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat; Morning headache; Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
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www.mayoclinic.com
Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor may make an evaluation based on your signs and symptoms or may refer you to a sleep disorder center. There, a sleep specialist can help you decide on your need for further evaluation. Such an evaluation often involves overnight monitoring of your breathing and other body functions during sleep. Tests to detect sleep apnea may include: Nocturnal polysomnography. During this test, you're hooked up to equipment that monitors your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Oximetry. This screening method involves using a small machine that monitors and records the oxygen level in your blood while you're asleep....
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www.mayoclinic.com
Treatments and drugs
For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If these measures don't improve your signs and symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments are available. Certain devices can help open up a blocked airway. In other cases, surgery may be necessary.
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www.mayoclinic.com