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Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Common Sleep Disorder

Every year, countless number of people all across the world are diagnosed with sleep problems. There are more than 100 sleep related problems. Of all such disorders, sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder. It is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep due to repetitive episodes of obstruction to air flow into the lungs. This is the reason why it is also known as "obstructive sleep apnea.

There are several factors that may cause obstructive sleep apnea. Usually, the obstruction to air flow occurs at the level of soft palate, however it may also occur at other levels in the throat. For instance, air flow into the lungs can get blocked due to a swollen uvula or tonsils. It may also occur when the base of the tongue protrudes backwards. Respiratory infection leading to nasal congestion, swelling of throat or enlarged tonsils can also cause temporary sleep apnea. Acute viral infection increasing dramatically the size of lymphoid tissue is also a reason behind obstructive sleep apnea. Research in this field has also shown drugs and alcohol as a potential culprit causing temporary sleep apnea, as they may relax body tissues excessively, thus interfering with the normal sleep mechanism.

The interesting thing about sleep apnea is that the person suffering from it may not be aware of such a problem. Only those people who have observed him/her while sleeping can make out such a problem. So, it is important for everyone to know the symptoms of this sleep disorder. Some common symptoms that are exhibited by people suffering from obstructive Sleep apnea are loud snoring, morning grogginess or fatigue, dry mouth in the morning, headaches on awakening, sweating all through the night, indigestion, increased urination at night, decreased libido, depression, and problems with memory or concentration.

Sleep apnea should be taken seriously, as it can lead to many problems in the future such as high blood pressure, strokes, congestive heart failure, and even heart attack. There are many treatments available to cure this problem such as the following:

Side Positioning: Special garments and pillows can help in making the patient sleep only on his sides. This helps in reducing the severity of sleep apnea.

Weight Loss: Doctors are of the opinion that obese people suffering from sleep apnea can make a lot of difference if they lose some weight. This also facilitates other methods of treating the ailment.

Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): It is a special device which blows air gently from a machine into a mask applied over the patient's nose. The air pressure thus created helps in eliminating the problem of sleep apnea and gives the patient freedom from frequent awakenings during sleep.

Dental Appliances: Effective for mild and moderate sleep apnea, these devices are used to keep the tongue and the lower jaw from falling backwards during sleep.

Surgery: Surgeries are done to widen the air passage, and thus reducing the severity of sleep apnea. These normally focus on the soft palate, tongue, nose or jaw.

Article Source: http://articleaddict.com

Ashwin Gowda is a very well known author who writes on topics likeObstructive Sleep Apnea, & all kinds of Sleep Disorder

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