A Definition Of Sleep Apnea Disorder And Its Causes, Symptoms And Detection

The commonest form of sleep apnea is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is a condition marked by periods during which breathing ceases while you are sleeping. At times this condition is called sleep apnea syndrome or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

In most healthy individuals the muscles that work the upper section of the throat ensure that the flow of air into and out of the lungs is steady and continuous. During sleep these muscles relax to a degree but still manage to do their job satisfactorily. But those individuals who suffer from sleep apnea frequently have airways that are narrowed and therefore when the muscles relax this causes the airway to partially or completely close up thereby preventing the passage of air to the lungs. Labored breathing and snoring leading to a sleep apnea episode will then be seen.

In some individuals breathing can also cease completely during periods of deep sleep and medical experts and researchers are not sure about why this occurs. These times during which breathing ceases can last for as long as ten seconds or more and are known as apneic events or sleep apnea episodes.

These apneic events lead to a degree of awareness that you have ceases breathing and you subsequently struggle to breath again which is usually accompanied by gasping, choking or even snorting.

Thereafter it is normal to fall into a period of light sleep before the pattern of apneic events starts again.

The effect is that a person suffers from fragmented sleep which does not allow them to enjoy amount of rest which they require each night. This in turn leads to a variety of health problems one of which is excessive daytime tiredness. One of the reasons for this daytime symptom is simply that the oxygen level in the blood falls significantly during an apneic event leading to a condition called hypoxia.

It is most important to know that a lot of individuals who suffer from sleep apnea are unaware that they have a problem and frequently it must be left to others to bring the problem to their attention. Sufferers are normally aware of how excessively tired they are throughout the day but do not always know why.

The commonest warning signs of sleep apnea include loud and habitual snoring, waking in the morning and still feeling tired, morning headaches, problems with concentration, alterations in personality, falling asleep at inappropriate times, high blood pressure, hyperactivity (in children) and swelling of the legs.

The first step in diagnosing sleep apnea should be a visit to your doctor who will read through your medical history and look at your mouth, throat and neck for signs of any growths or abnormalities. If your doctor suspects that you have sleep apnea he will send you for a sleep study and what is called a polysomnogram. This test records eye movement, brain waves, muscle activity, breathing rate, heart rate, oxygen levels in the blood and the quantity of air that is being both inhaled and exhaled during sleep.