Did you know? 3 amongst 8 men suffer from sleep apnea and are one of the most common sleep disorders amongst the American population. Though sleep apnea is common amongst men, it has the potential to affect children and all the sexes as well. 

If not diagnosed at an early stage, the health implications of sleep apnea could prove to be potentially hazardous. In order to overcome this condition, awareness is of utmost importance. It is highly necessary for people to get diagnosed at the initial stage. Early detection of type, causes, symptoms can definitely go a long way when it comes to effective treatment of sleep apnea. 

What is Sleep Apnea? 

WebMD states ‘Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This means the brain and the rest of the body may not get enough oxygen. There are two types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
• Central sleep apnea: Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe, due to instability in the respiratory control center’

Mayo Clinic observes the following: ‘Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea. The main types of sleep apnea are:

• Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax
• Central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, which occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea’

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea 

The most critical aspect of treating sleep apnea is early diagnosis and detection of its kind. The treatment is heavily dependent on the kind – whether it is OSA or Central Sleep Apnea. In order to ascertain the kind, early detection and recognition of the same are vital to begin treatment. 

Put forth by Mayo clinic, the most notable symptoms of sleep apnea could be observed as: 

• Loud snoring
• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Awakening with a dry mouth
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Difficulty paying attention while awake
• Irritability

In case, you have been experiencing some of the above symptoms, the first step to get to a proper diagnosis, is speaking to your general physician. Depending upon the severity and the frequency of your symptoms, a general physician can recommend the way forward. 

The most common diagnostic practices include: 

• Polysomnography is a sleep study that can be done at home or a sleep clinic. This test monitors vital functions like breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, eye/leg movements while you are a sleep. Furthermore, these recordings are studied by a sleep specialist. Asleep specialist essentially evaluates the kind of sleep disorder you might just be facing. 
• A lot of sleep study organizations/sleep clinics also provide self-assessment kits and questionnaires in order to speed up the process of detection, which are later reviewed by sleep specialists and specialized physicians. Self-assessment can also be harnessed by using sleep improvement devices that provide insights and disruptions into your sleeping patterns. 
• In-lab Overnight Sleep Study is also a popularly used method. It requires you to sleep the night at a sleep center with sensors attached to certain centers of your body to observe vital functions and levels. An overnight sleep study helps your physician get thorough insights into your symptoms and unearth any other potential sleep disorders as well. 

Treating Sleep Apnea   

If left untreated, sleep apnea can alter the normal, most vital functions of your body. The most common, most fatal complications observed due to sleep apnea are: 

• Destabilization of Mental Health 
• Slow Immune Response 
• Increased risk of heart failure
• In some cases, memory loss 

Not enough stress is laid upon the early detection, diagnosis, and lifestyle changes as the most effective remedies for overcoming sleep apnea. Some of the most widely accepted remedies and treatments include: 

• At home

Lifestyle changes are key when it comes to home remedies for treating sleep apnea. Weight loss, zero consumption of tobacco/alcohol/sleeping pills, and focus on improving sleep positions for better breathing are most popular amongst all. 

• CPAP 

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure involves wearing a mask over your nose that is hooked to a machine that supplies constant airflow and is the most doc-recommended formula to overcome this disorder. 

• Dental devices 

Recommended by dentists who are capable of treating sleep apnea, these are devices that keep your airway open, while you are sleeping. 

Early detection, an overall healthy lifestyle with regulated sleeping patterns are the very core of overcoming sleep apnea and avoiding its many complications!