Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing
stops or pauses during sleep. These episodes are called apneas,
which mean "without breath". To be called an "apneic
event," the pause between breaths will be 10 seconds or more.
Sleep apnea can be diagnosed at a clinic specializing in a sleep
study called a polysomnogram. However, many people have this problem
and the worrying symptoms that go with it, without knowing they
actually have a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea may be brought to
light when a sleeping partner becomes concerned about the pauses
in breathing or complains about his or her loud snoring. Employers
may notice that the individual is unusually sleepy and fatigued
during the daytime, even though the sufferer is completely unaware
of the nightime sleep disturbance.
There are three different forms of sleep apnea:
Central sleep apnea is fairly rare, and is diagnosed
during a sleep study when the breathing is interrupted by a "lack
of effort".
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
is by far the most common type, comprising in approximately 84%
of patients with this type of sleep disorder. In obstructive sleep
apnea, a physical block interrupts the airflow.
It has been estimated that approximately 1 out of 5 American
adults would be diagnosed with OSA if they were studied in a sleep
lab, but the majority of these cases would be mild and cause little
concern. Chronic and severe obstructive sleep apnea may, however,
become a serious medical condition.
Complex sleep apnea is a combination of the
previous two types.
Breathing problems experienced during sleep are common because
the muscle tone of the body will relax as we fall asleep, and
soft tissue in the airway may relax and collapse, cutting off
the air supply. This often causes the individual to startle awake,
creating an interupted sleep pattern that leaves the patient tired,
fatigued and sleepy during the daytime hours.
Dangerous Side Effects of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea doesn't just affect your sleep, it causes a slew
of health issues and can be dangerous to other people as well.
Every year hundreds of auto crashes are attributed to sleep deprivation,
one of the side effects of sleep apnea. People who get their apnea
under control find their blood pressures lower and they are able
to lose weight when once it was impossible no matter how hard
they tried. Their work performance dramatically improves and their
short term memory increases.
One of the most dangerous side effects of sleep apnea is the
increased risk of car accidents. Studies have shown that driving
tired is just as dangerous, if not more so, than driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even if the sleep deprived
person manages to stay awake while driving, their reaction times
are decreased and judgment is impaired.
Cardiac issues have also been linked to lack of quality sleep.
Without proper rest, the body doesn't have down time to recuperate.
The work of trying to breathe causes the pulse to speed up and
the blood pressure to rise. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS)
is responsible for the fight or flight response. Noradrenaline
is released in response to external stimulus. It gives the body
a burst of energy by constricting blood vessels which in turn
raises blood pressure.
Studies (New England Journal of Medicine 2005, Mayo Clinic) have
found that in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) there
are more incidences of SNS activity even during waking hours.
The body has less relaxation time to recover from the SNS activity.
This puts a strain on the blood vessels causing heart disease
and stroke. It has been found that OSA sufferers have enlarged
hearts, but after six months of treatment with CPAP, the hearts
of patients improved in size and function. This sleep apnea side
effect can lead to arrhythmias and death.
People with sleep apnea are also at a higher risk of cardiac
arrest in the night time hours. The time frame most associated
with cardiac arrest in the general population is right after waking
up until around noon. It is believed this is because the heart
is most vulnerable right after prolonged rest. With sleep apnea
patients, that time was reversed and over 50% of patients suffering
cardiac arrest died between 10pm and 6am. It is thought that the
decrease in oxygen levels and increase in carbon dioxide levels
that apnea patients experience is responsible.
Sleep apnea affects the brain's ability to function properly.
Lack of sleep decreases cognitive learning, promotes short term
memory loss, and impairs judgmental reasoning. Sufferers find
simple work tasks difficult. They may receive bad work performances,
and might even be fired. These symptoms can be so devastating
in some that it is considered a Federal Social Security disability.
Obesity has been linked to sleep deprivation. Two hormones that
regulate when we eat and how much we eat have been found to be
out of balance in patients with sleep apnea. These hormones combined
with the lack of energy to exercise results in weight gain.
Sleep apnea doesn't just affect a person's sleep, it affects
their whole life and being. Personalities are altered and health
is put at risk. Sleep apnea side effects are dangerous and life
threatening. If a person is thought to have a sleep disorder,
it is imperative they seek help immediately.
You can find more information about sleep apnea and other sleep
disorders in the following articles:
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