Archive for September, 2010

Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Find Out the

Connection

snoring and sleep apneaSnoring and sleep apnea is probably one of the most common sleeping disorders that many people all over the world experience. And though the sleep apnea sufferer may not be aware that he or she has this sleeping disorder, the people sleeping beside the sleep apnea sufferer may be fully aware of it.

There are many kinds of snoring and sleep apnea and most of it has something to do with the body and the brain not being able to get the proper amount of oxygen. It is because with sleep apnea, the airway is usually blocked or constricted making it difficult for oxygen to enter the body. Lack of oxygen can lead to many different illnesses like stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure and others.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea can Effect you During the Day Too.

When you suffer from sleep apnea you will notice that you have excessive daytime sleepiness and you will feel unproductive throughout the day. This is because sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that deprives your body the right amount of sleep.

Sleep apnea has so many symptoms and one of its most popular symptoms is snoring. Snoring is the description for the loud sounds that you produce when you sleep because of the pauses in breathing. When you snore it is rare for you to be aware of it, that’s why it is more possible for the bedmate to know that a person has sleep apnea (especially if they are light sleepers) than the person suffering from it.

But not all people who snore suffer from sleep apnea. There are other reasons why some people snore and it is not always sleep apnea.

A person’s sleeping position may cause a person to snore. People who sleep on their back tend to snore more than people who sleep on their side. This is because when you sleep on your back, your throat muscles relax and it narrows the airway. When the airway is constricted it is more difficult for a person to breathe and causes him to snore.

Being overweight is also another cause of snoring. When a person gains weight fat tissues also develop and when these fat tissues develop around the neck, it also constricts the airway.

There are many ways to treat snoring and sleep apnea  and the first thing to be done is to get evaluated by a doctor. They would use a sleep test like a polysomnography to detect changes in your heart rate, breathing pattern, oxygen level, brain waves and others to determine if you have sleep apnea.

Once the doctor is able to discover what causes your sleeping apnea or snoring then it will be easier to know how to treat it. Common ways of treating it is losing weight, using sleep apnea pillows, a change in lifestyle, and others.

Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea but just because you are snoring does not mean that you already have sleep apnea. It is always best to get yourself checked to see if your snoring and sleep apnea are possibly connected because this could become a serious sleeping disorder.

sleep apnea pillowA Sleep Apnea Pillow -

recommended treatment.

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders that people all around the world are experiencing. A person has sleep apnea when he or she experiences short pauses of breaths while sleeping. The length of the pauses may vary from seconds to minutes and it can be a serious condition because when you have sleep apnea your brain will not receive enough oxygen.

Lack of oxygen in the brain can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness or loss of productivity and it can also lead to other serious medical conditions like heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and others.

There are many kinds of sleep apnea and the most common kind that many people experience is called obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a person’s throat muscles relaxes and blocks the airway. Anyone can suffer from this and there are several things that cause obstructive sleep apnea.

Being overweight is a possible cause of sleep apnea. When you are overweight the extra fat tissues thicken the wall around your windpipe. This makes it more difficult for air to pass through because the opening is narrower than when you are awake.

Smokers are more prone to experience sleep apnea because when a person smokes, it increases the inflammation in the throat and in your upper airway. It also increases the fluid retention making it more difficult for oxygen to enter.

A Sleep Apnea Pillow May be the Solution You Seek

Psyche CPAP Pillow, Standard, 4

There are many more causes of sleep apnea and if you (or the person sleeping next to you) would want to fix your sleep apnea problem then you can try using a sleep apnea pillow.

Using a sleep apnea pillow is one of the most common treatments that many sleep apnea sufferers use. It is a specially designed pillow that was made to prevent people from snoring.

Snoring is just a common symptom of sleep apnea and this is what the sleep apnea pillow aims to stop or at least reduce. Studies have shown that with the right support and sleeping position, snoring can be prevented.

There are many variations of sleep apnea pillow available for you to choose from.

Therefore, you should know what to look for in this kind of pillow to make sure that it would work.

When buying a sleep apnea pillow make sure that it will support your neck to prevent your tongue from blocking the air passage way. It should also be able to restrict your movement so that you will be able to maintain a position that prevents you from snoring. Also, it should be able to reduce the pressure on your shoulder and arms and should be able to snuggle your head with ease and comfort.

Natural sleep aids are worth trying first for most sleeping problems.

There are a multitude of sleeping disorders and the sleep apnea pillow is one of the most recommended treatments for sleep apnea because it positions a person’s head in a way that the airway will be clear from any blockage. Also, it helps in aiding a person to find a sleeping position that is comfortable yet lessens the possibility of snoring. That is why if you do not want to feel sluggish in the morning then a sleep apnea pillow may help you get better and more comfortable sleep.

Have you ever felt so fatigued for the duration of the day that you just needed to pull off the highway and take a fast nap? That daytime fatigue was probably the result of working late, lack of rest and/or stress that interrupts high quality rest.

Once you get just a little rest, you’re fine. Nevertheless for men and women with narcolepsy, you are able to fall asleep all through the day with no warning. Even though you get plenty of sleep at night, you continue to go to rest throughout daylight hours.

No matter how you attempt to battle it or how several triple shot lattes you drink, you can’t compel your self to keep awake. Prior to being diagnosed with narcolepsy, you were probably the subject of jokes and criticism.

You are not lazy and also you aren’t faking. This is recognized as a quite authentic medical disorder. If ever the situation gets worse, it could truly interfere with your job, driving, social life and severely limit your regular activities.

Customary indications of narcolepsy are:

•    Falling asleep several times throughout your day, even although you had an adequate quantity of sleep during the night.

•    You all of a sudden feel as if your legs won’t hold you up. The feeling is in particular one of tiredness – not fainting -and you might be aware of the weakness that overcomes you.

•    You just cannot avoid falling fast asleep even although you’re doing things you get pleasure from like spending time with loved ones and mates, participating in a sport, enjoying a hobby or attending a special event which you seriously looked forward to going to.

Over 200,000 individuals in the United States alone have been diagnosed with narcolepsy and that’s likely a far smaller number than those who are affected and don’t know what the trouble is.

Narcolepsy occurs within the same way in males and females, usually starting in adolescence. Even though there isn’t any healthcare proof that narcolepsy is genetic, narcolepsy seems to occur in families with 8-12% having at least 1 close family members member with this situation.

The very best way to find out if you’ve narcolepsy is with a sleep study and a polysomnogram. These are healthcare assessments which are interpreted by a doctor who makes a speciality of rest disorders.

If you are diagnosed with narcolepsy, you could possibly be given prescription medication. You are able to also help oneself via making lifestyle changes, including avoiding stressful activities and/or operating too late prior to going to bed.

Explain your problem and warning signs to loved ones, friends and superior at work. You require individuals close to you to understand that your daytime sleepiness isn’t laziness, avoidance or lack of enthusiasm but a health-related dilemma which requires attention.