A Few Myths Which Are Widely Believed About Recognizing And Treating The Sleeping Disorder

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


Below are 5 falsely believed misconceptions about Sleep Apnea, from the symptoms all the way to the diagnosis of the condition to the numerous treatments available.


1.Sleep Apnea is just snoring: Myth Sleep Apnea and snoring are often confused as the same thing however 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 or "Apnea's" can last from 10 to 30 seconds, often followed by a grunt or snort which is why the condition sometimes get confused by snoring. These pauses in breathing can disrupt your sleep pattern making you more tired the following day.


2.Sleep Apnea is not dangerous: Myth The various breaks in sleep can severely disrupt your natural sleep pattern, exhausting your body and mind. People with the condition often wake up in the middle of the night gasping fro breath, which can be very traumatic and as a whole can cause the heart and cardiovascular system to over exert. The interruptions in breathing can also reduce blood oxygen levels drastically. Untreated Sleep Apnea can cause car accidents, work-related injuries and strokes.


3.Losing weight can help: Fact A person who is obese or overweight is more inclined to suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This is due to the lack of muscle tone around the main airway, resulting in a narrow and restricted airway. By just losing a small percentage your symptoms will notably improve. Smoking can also worsen the symptoms of OSA, so ask your doctor for tips and advice on how to quit.


4. Only older people get Sleep Apnea: Myth Medical statistics show that around 17 million people in the USA suffer from Sleep Apnea. Although you are more likely suffer from 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 overweight and male, you are more likely to acquire OSA. Sleep Apnea is also likely to run in families.


5. CPAP is an effective treatment: Fact A CPAP machine blows a strong enough stream of air through the airways via a mask keeping your airway open whilst you sleep. The CPAP equipment is considered to be the most effective non-surgical procedure for alleviating the symptoms of Sleep Apnea. CPAP is the most popular method of treatment for adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It has also been proved to be a very effective treatment.


Now that a few myths have been corrected, if you think that you or maybe your partner or child tolerate Sleep Apnea, don't hesitate and visit your family doctor for advice on what to do next.

CPAP Machines are useful for people that suffer from a disorder named sleep apnea. This is an everyday affliction that causes complications to a person's breathing patterns during the time that they are asleep which can lead to fatigue when awake and in some severe cases can lead to memory problems and chronic headaches. CPAPs work by supplying a flow of air through a tube, which can greatly reduce the effects of sleep apnea and allows users to happily sleep well. CPAP Machines can really help but it is still a good idea to talk with a doctor if you find yourself with breathing problems while you're trying to sleep.