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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.

CPAP: Sleep Apnea Treatment To Help You Sleep Better

CPAP therapy is the number one sleep apnea treatment. CPAP machines give continuous positive air pressure throughout the night, which you simply inhale through a sleep mask. You'll sleep better, snore less, and be more rested the next day.

The CPAP machine is not large - about the size of a shoe box. CPAP masks come in different varieties, but most people choose a CPAP mask that covers just the nose and leaves the mouth uncovered.

CPAP machines are regulated by the FDA and require a doctor's prescription. (The same is true for other breathing machines, like VPAP or APAP.) A doctor's supervision is an essential part of getting the most out of CPAP sleep apnea treatment.

Some CPAP machines keep records of a patient's nightly breathing. By examining this information, your sleep doctor or dentist can learn more about your sleep patterns - without you coming into a sleep center for overnight monitoring.

When it comes to moderate to severe sleep apnea, CPAP is the treatment that is most often effective. There are many brands and models of CPAP machines out there; it's all a matter of finding the one that will work best for 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.