Apnea: Skipping Breaths at Night Equals Sleep Apnea
An apnea is what happens when you stop breathing for a moment during sleep. Apneas are defined as pauses lasting 10 seconds or longer; a shorter pause is known as a hypopnea. It's most often caused by your breathing passageways becoming blocked while you sleep, a sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea.
During an apnea, blood oxygen levels fall. The brain doesn't get the oxygen it needs. REM sleep, which is supposed to be the most restful, is compromised. Sleep apnea leaves people feeling daytime fatigue, but that's not all: it also leaves sufferers more vulnerable to a host of other health problems. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, brain damage and memory loss have all been linked to sleep apnea.
Not all people who snore have sleep apnea, but most people with sleep apnea do snore. Snoring is loud, rumbling breath during sleep. Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is characterized by stopping breathing or skipping breaths during sleep.
Treating obstructive or central sleep apnea improves a person's overall health and well-being. But a significant side benefit of sleep apnea treatment is that it can eliminate snoring. Ask anyone whose spouse snores just how valuable that can be! In fact, when people who snore seek treatment, the marriage tends to improve as well.
+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.
Sleep Disorder Treatment Can Solve Your Sleep Apnea Problems
A sleep disorder can wreak havoc on your life. Sleeping problems mean that your body doesn't get the rest it needs each night, leaving you tired throughout the day. Untreated sleep disorders can have serious consequences to both your physical and emotional health.
Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleeping problems. During sleep, your airway will sometimes be obstructed, leaving you unable to breathe. These "skipped breaths" are the core sleep apnea symptom.
Many people with sleep apnea don't even know it. They may feel tired during the day, and their spouse may complain that they snore, but they might never seek sleep apnea treatment. However, sleep doctors and dentists can offer a number of sleep apnea therapies, including a CPAP breathing mask worn at night.
The quality of your sleep has a direct relationship to the quality of your life. If you're not sleeping well, you might have a treatable sleeping disorder. Ask your dentist or physician if sleep medicine could help you.
+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.