Sleep Apnea: What It Is And Managment

“How ample a little is for a well-disciplined person! He does not breathe heavily when in bed. Healthy sleep depends on moderate eating; he rises early, and feels fit...”

–Sirach 31:19-20.

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Sleep apnea is a “breathing disorder that occurs during sleep, in which the sleeper repeatedly (perhaps hundreds of times per night) stops breathing [for 10 or more seconds[1] and up to two minutes in severe cases[2]] during sleep.”[3] “Most often it occurs because loss of muscle tone in pharyngeal muscles allows the airways to collapse.”[4]

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Commonly affecting overweight men over forty years of age, it’s also associated with heavy alcohol consumption. “Apnea literally means ‘no breathing.’” (A sentence on the association of sleep apnea and SIDS has been removed. Recent scientific research has concluded no such link -- ref: Chime study. [Author thanks feedback noted in the comment to this post and is grateful for same.] Endnote 5 has thus been removed.) [6] Snoring is often associated with sleep apnea, and sufferers often snore in between episodes of apnea.[7]

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If you or your partner:

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~~ Snores or have sleep apnea when sleeping only on your back, propping pillows or taking other steps so that one cannot sleep on the back should be tried.

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~~ “Snore loudly or have repeated awakenings followed by gasps for breath, you may be suffering from sleep apnea and should seek medical attention.”[8] But treatment depends on the severity of the condition.

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The quote at the beginning suggests there are often important lifestyle factors involved in snoring and sleep apnea. We could do a lot worse than rein in our eating practices, reduce our alcohol consumption, and increase our daily exercise.

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The US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute say, “Untreated sleep apnea can:

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- Increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes
- Increase the risk for or worsen heart failure
- Make irregular heartbeats more likely
- Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents

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Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea in many people.”[9]

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Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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ENDNOTES:

[1] Gerard J. Tortora & Sandra R Grabowski, Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 9th Ed, (New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000), p. 508.
[2] Robert J. Sternberg, In Search of the Human Mind, 2nd Ed, (Fort Worth, Texas: Harcourt & Brace College Publishers, 1998), p. 201.
[3] Sternberg, Ibid, Glossary G-31.
[4] Tortora & Grabowski, Ibid, p. 508.
[6] Karen Huffman, Mark Vernoy & Judith Vernoy, Psychology in Action, 5th Ed, (New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000), p. 151.
[7] Huffman et al, Ibid, p. 151.
[8] Huffman et al, Ibid, p. 152.
[9] Source online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_WhatIs.html