Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a life threatening problem, more so because, it is often mistaken as snoring. There are three main forms of sleep apnoea and obstructive sleep apnoea. Despite the different names, they are all the same in effect – the patient shops breathing during sleep. The reason for the different terms is because the basic cause of each varies.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by a blockage in the air ways. This is caused by the tissue at the back of the throat relaxing and closing during sleep. Central sleep apnoea is a brain-related problem in which the nerve signals are not sent to the breathing muscles, resulting in breathing problems even when there is no air way to blockage. Mixed sleep apnoea is a mixture of two a soft tissue problem and a brain signal error. To ensure that the body receives enough oxygen to survive, the brain will wake the sleeping individual to remind them to breathe. As a consequence of this sleep for sufferers of sleep apnoea can be unsatisfying. Fortunately, there are many treatments available these days.
The main symptom of sleep apnoea occurs during sleep and as such the individual will often be unaware of the problem. The spouse, or partner, will often be the first to complain about the disturbance. Most sleep apnoea treatment regimens begin with lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol and medications that relax the central nervous system like, sedatives and muscle relaxants, losing weight and quitting smoking. Some people with sleep apnoea are helped by special pillows or devices that keep them from sleeping on their backs to keep the airway open during sleep.
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