Understanding Sleep Apnea Test Results - Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Jan. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- Understanding Sleep Apnea Test Results

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a relatively common medical condition which affects between one to five per cent of the population. OSA is more common in men than women and is found with greater frequency in people who are overweight and/or aging. This condition is best described as breathing that starts and stops during sleep. Periods of "no breathing" activity are called apneas.

Partial obstructions to breathing are called hypopneas. These stoppages or obstructions take place when muscles in the back of the throat relax during sleep. This causes the airway to narrow or close. As many as five of these episodes per hour of sleep are considered normal. When more than five episodes occur per hour of sleep, a diagnosis of sleep apnea is usually made.

Patients with severe OSA have more than one apnea or hypopnea every minute they are asleep. While these pauses in breathing usually last between 20 and 30 seconds, they occasionally will last up to one minute. When breathing stops, the level of oxygen in the bloodstream falls, sometimes to dangerously low levels.

The brain senses this decrease in oxygen and briefly rouses the person from sleep. At this point, the muscles in the back of the throat become more active and hold the airway open so that breathing can resume. These wakings make it very hard to get a good night's sleep. Try Internet #1 - Understanding Sleep Apnea Test Results @ http://insomniacure01.webs.com and kill your Insomnia Forever.

What are the symptoms of OSA?

Soft, rhythmic snoring is not believed to have any significant adverse effects on health. However, when snoring becomes loud with changes in its intensity, breathing may be impaired and sleep disrupted. Close observation often reveals pauses in breathing on periods where the individual appears to be struggling to breathe.

These episodes usually end when the sleeper rouses for a moment and makes a loud snorting noise as breathing resumes. Occasionally individuals will awake from sleep feeling short of breath. When these episodes happen often, fatigue and sleepiness during the day are the result. At first, this problem may be mild, with the individual falling asleep easily while reading or watching television.

As the apneas become more frequent, it will be more difficult to stay awake while doing active things such as driving a car or working at a job. It is well known that many patients have been involved in motor accidents. Because lack of sleep is very stressful, affected people may become irritable, undergo changes in personality, or have difficulty with memory.

Occasionally they will experience headaches in the morning as well as sexual dysfunction. Sleep apnea is often associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). When apnea is severe, heart failure may occur. There are also higher incidences of ischemic heart disease and stroke in people with OSA.

Most people with sleep apnea are substantially overweight. Nasal congestion is often present, which means that breathing is done through the mouth. This produces dryness and soreness of the mouth in the morning. Any condition that contributes to the narrowing in the back of the throat such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids favors the development of sleep apnea. Try Internet #1 - Understanding Sleep Apnea Test Results @ http://insomniacure01.webs.com and kill your Insomnia Forever.

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