Introduction to Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is highly prevalent in the population compared to its counterparts. As the name implies it is caused due to an obstruction in the free flow of the air. During sleep, there is not enough air from nose to lungs as the windpipe is blocked or collapsed briefly during breathing, due to the relaxation of muscles.

The cause might be due to tonsils, overweight of the person, smaller airway, respiratory infection, improper facial structure, worn out airway muscles, obstruction in the nasal passages, reduction in blood oxygen saturation and sometimes the structure of the jaw.  It can prevail in people who take drugs too.  So little time is spent in deep sleep that the brain briefly raises to activity when they resume breathing, resulting in sleep deprivation. This causes tiredness, weakness and in advanced cases stroke, asthma and sometimes depression
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More Articles On Sleep Apnea

Devices used for Sleep Apnea
As the saying goes, a patient has to first seek the help of support devices which might be a saviour from sleep apnea. These devices are used by patients who have mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea
Polysomnography:  Though it is commonly used for diagnosis in children, it was not designed for the purpose.  As the children's physiology and respiratory rates are high, the machine designed for adults can not be precisely used.

FAQs about sleep apnea
There are many home remedies and devices, which can be used to treat sleep apnea.   However, these are not always effective in eliminating sleep apnea and surgery becomes inevitable.

Sleep Apnea
'Sleep' is nature's gift to the human body where the body gets a chance to recharge and repair muscles and in building our immune system. During sleep, brain organizes and stores memories.

How do you know if you have  sleep apnea
Sometimes it becomes difficult to spot a particular problem, as symptoms for many disorders will overlap and finding the right disorder becomes a major task.  To worsen the situation...

Self Help for Sleep Apnea
Always self-care is the most correct way to deal with obstructive sleep apnea and sometimes for central sleep apnea and mixed apnea too.

Sleep apnea in children
What is the most common type of sleep apnea observed in children?
The most common type of sleep apnea which children suffer from is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Snoring and sleep apnea
Is your partner's snore disturbing you? Hang on! It is not something to fight over but an issue which needs immediate medical attention.

Surgery for sleep apnea
A simple outpatient surgery might help those suffering from mild sleep apnea. The main aim of this surgery is to remove the tissues that cause obstruction.  This includes removal of tonsils, adenoids and any other blockages.

When to seek medical attention for sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a very serious disorder and is widespread across every country. Unfortunately there is lack of awareness about its prevalence. It mainly affects the middle aged overweight population...

 

Sleep Apnea News On The Web

Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Loud Snoring May Be a Sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (The Morning Call)
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: According to my wife, I'm a loud snorer. She swears I must have sleep apnea. I've heard there are mouth devices that can help with this condition. True? Where can I find them?

Chilton offers comfortable solutions for sleep apnea (The West Milford Messenger)
Pompton Plains, N.J. Attention sufferers of sleep apnea: Is your CPAP device uncomfortable? Don’t throw it away! The Sleep Health Institute at Chilton Memorial Hospital may have a solution that will not only get you back to a good night’s sleep, but also improved health.

Novel Patent Targets The Most Common Sleep Complaint: Chronic Insomnia (Medical News Today)
Consolidated Research of Richmond, Inc. (CRI) announces the awarding of United States Patent 7,654,948 - which is a novel, drug-free system for treating people suffering from the most common sleep complaint: Chronic Insomnia. An estimated 10-20% of the industrialized world's adult population suffers from moderate to severe chronic insomnia, yet, unlike sleep apnea, there is a significant lack of ...

Soon, injection or throat spray for kids with obstructive sleep apnea (New Kerala)
Washington, Feb 5 : A new study has found that kids with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may one day be able to have an injection or use a throat spray instead of getting their tonsils removed to cure their snoring.

Brain Damage Seen in People With Severe Sleep Apnea (MedicineNet.com)
Title: Brain Damage Seen in People With Severe Sleep Apnea Category: Health News Created: 2/3/2010 2:10:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 2/4/2010

Brain Damage Seen in People With Severe Sleep Apnea (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- People with severe obstructive sleep apnea have reduced concentrations of gray matter in multiple areas of the brain, new research shows.

Sleep Apnea Surgery Helping Many Get Rest (CBS 11 Dallas - Fort Worth)
Tired of your spouse's loud snoring? Have you caught him or her choking or gasping for air in the middle of the night? That could be a sign of sleep apnea. There are non-surgical remedies that temporarily mask the issue, but a little-known surgery could completely correct the problem, for good.

Possible pharmacological target(s) identified in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (Science Daily)
Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may one day be able to have an injection or use a throat spray instead of getting their tonsils removed to cure their snoring, according to a new study which found that a specific gene product may be responsible for the proliferation of adenotonsillar tissue that can cause pediatric OSA.

Research and Markets: In 2008, The Market For Anesthesia, Respiratory And Sleep Management Devices In The U.S. Was ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DUBLIN----Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "U.S. Market for Anesthesia, Respiratory and Sleep Management Devices 2010 " report to their offering.

Feeling tired? Sleep apnea may be the reason (The Norwalk Citizen)
The answer is someone wearing CPAP gear. "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure" therapy is used nightly by those afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).