A Few Myths And Misconceptions About Sleep Apnea The Sleeping Disorder.

There are three specific types of Sleep Apnea, Central (CSA), Obstructive (OSA) or mixed Sleep Apnea, a combination of both Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. You will probably be unaware of your condition despite the type of Sleep Apnea you suffer from.


Below is a a collection of commonly believed myths about the sleep condition Sleep Apnea, from the symptoms and diagnosis of the condition to the treatments available.


1.Sleep Apnea is just snoring: Myth Snoring is often seen as a symptom for Sleep Apnea, but there are big differences between the two. As previously mentioned, people with Sleep Apnea can actually stop breathing up to 400 times a night. The pauses in breathing can last anywhere between 10 to 30 seconds, often succeeded by a snort which is why the condition sometimes get confused by snoring. The pauses in breathing can severely damage your sleep pattern making your very tired the next day.


2.Sleep Apnea is not dangerous: Myth The pauses in sleep can severely disrupt your sleep pattern, taking a toll on your body and mind. People with Sleep Apnea often wake up gasping for air, which can be very traumatic and as a whole can put a lot of strain on the heart and cardiovascular system. The pauses in breathing can also reduce blood oxygen levels severely. Untreated Sleep Apnea can cause car accidents, work-related injuries and strokes.


3.Losing weight can help: Fact Someone who is obese or overweight is very likely to suffer with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This is because of the lack of muscle tone and soft tissue in and around the airway causing your airway to be very narrow and restricted. Just by losing a fraction of your weight can drastically reduce your symptoms. If you smoke, this can also increase the symptoms of OSA, so ask your doctor for the best products to help you quit.


4. Only older people get Sleep Apnea: Myth Statistics show that over 17 million people in the USA live with Sleep Apnea. However you are more likely to endure the condition if you are over 40, people of all ages, including young children have been diagnosed with this sleep disorder. However if you are male and overweight, it is more likely that OSA will develop. Sleep Apnea is also likely to be passed on through families.


5. CPAP is an effective treatment: Fact The acronym CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. A CPAP machine blows air through a mask into your breathing passages keeping your airway open whilst you sleep. The sleep apnea mask is the most effective, non-surgical treatment for Sleep Apnea for improving the symptoms of Sleep Apnea. CPAP is the most common method of treatment for adult sufferers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It has also proved to be very effective.


Now that a few Myths have been debunked, if you think that you or maybe somebody you know struggle with Sleep Apnea, don't hesitate and seek advice from your GP as soon as you can.