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Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person is unable to breath, or stops breathing during sleep. It comes in three forms, Central Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Mixed Sleep Apnea, which is a mixture of the first two.
Central Sleep Apnea is the most serious form of sleep apnea, as it is a brain fault which causes it. Breathing is an involuntarily muscle movement which the brain controls without us having to think about it. During deep sleep, a person suffering Central Sleep Apnea will suddenly stop breathing for what can be seconds or even a couple of minutes. This happens because the brain signals which instruct the lungs to take in air somehow aren't sent, which causes breathing to stop.
In the case of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, it is a physical obstruction within the airways which impedes breathing. A person with Obstructive Sleep Apnea will continue physically trying to breath, but the airways may close up whilst in the relaxed state of sleep. Suddenly, after what may be a few seconds of struggling for breath, a person suddenly gasp before returning to sleep. During sleep – and depending upon the sleeping position – the airways tend to become relaxed and close up some, which is what causes the obstruction. A person who suffers breathing troubles whilst awake may be even more likely to suffer from bouts of sleep apnea than those who don't.
A person suffering from sleep apnea may wake up feeling very tired, lethargic and may have a headache due to oxygen starvation. Heartburn may also be experienced as a symptom. As the day goes on, a person will grow even more tired and may find it hard to concentrate and interact adequately.
Sleep apnea is progressive, and untreated will get worse. This means a person will find it harder to breath during sleep, and will find they become increasingly run down physically and mentally. In the long term, untreated sleep apnea can also open the door to other more serious health issues. |
