SLEEP
NEWS IN BRIEF
Sleep plays a vital
role in good health and well-being throughout our lives. Getting enough quality
sleep at the right times can help protect our mental health, physical health,
quality of life and safety.
The way we feel while we’re
awake depends in part on what happens while we’re sleeping. During sleep, our
bodies are working to support healthy brain function and maintain our physical
health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is
repeatedly interrupted during sleep. The word “apnea” literally means “without
breath”. An apnea is defined as a complete cessation of breathing that lasts 10
seconds or greater. There are two principal types of sleep apnea, “Obstructive Sleep
Apnea (OSA),” and “Central Sleep Apnea” (CSA). By far the most common is
obstructive sleep apnea, diagnosed on overnight sleep study .Obstructive Sleep
Apnea results from repetitive collapse of the upper airway. Central sleep apnea
is due to decreased output from ventilatory control centres in the brain.
Why
Sleep Apnea is Harmful – The Cumulative Effect of Sleep Apnea
The longer Obstructive Sleep Apnea goes untreated,
the greater the negative effects and associated health risks. If sleep apnea
remains untreated, other health conditions may emerge including: high blood
pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, reflux disease (GERD),
atherosclerosis and gestational diabetes.
Why
Sleep Apnea is Harmful- The Consequences of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea causes: excessive daytime sleepiness,
morning and daytime headaches, generalized irritability and impaired emotional
functioning.
Snoring
and Sleep Apnea in Children
You often don’t think of children of snoring or
suffering from sleep apnea but a number of them do. Children with sleep apnea
repeatedly stop breathing during sleep and the episodes last from 10 seconds to
a minute or so. Usually, they occur because of an obstruction in the airways,
commonly due to big tonsils and adenoids, obesity, family history of OSA, Down’s
syndrome and sickle cell disease. Sleep
disordered breathing in childhood may be instrumental in delaying or damaging
cognitive development.
Diagnosis
and treatment of Sleep Apnea
A sleep study test is
usually done to diagnose sleep apnea and it is the most accurate test. The test
measures how well you sleep and how your body responds to sleep problems. These
tests can help your doctor find out whether you have a sleep disorder and how
severe it is. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most common
treatment option for the management of sleep apnea. The CPAP machine is small
and pulls in room air, compresses it and blows it into a tube which is attached
to a mask worn by the patient. The pressurized air from the CPAP keeps the
airway open, allowing the patient to breathe. While CPAP is the common
treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, other modalities of treatment do exist.
They include: lifestyle changes, positional therapy, weight loss, oral
appliances and surgical procedures. Patients who get Obstructive Sleep Apnea
treated will return to a more normal sleep pattern allowing the body its much
needed rest. Patients will also feel more awake and energetic allowing
increased focus and activity throughout the day.
If you, your spouse and
or family member snores at night and you suspect that you may have sleep apnea,
please visit The Karen Hospital and we will schedule an appointment for you to
evaluate your sleep health today!
References
Good piece of information,I will refer a friend who SNORES like SUBARU IMPREZA.
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