Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Treatment and Diagnosis

Sleep apnea is experienced by many people and it is indeed a grave problem. Sleep apnea results when a person faces interrupted breathing while he is asleep. Does it ring any bells? If not, let me help you out. Yes, Snoring. People who snore generally have sleep apnea. Breathing stops for a short period of time and this pause may last anywhere from seconds to minutes. They do not have any fixed frequency. After that span of time of over, breathing will start again but there is a choking sound at that time. Read on to find out more about it.

What are the Types of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea has its types too. There are three types and each of them are explained below:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This type of sleep apnea has its root causes lying in the muscles of the throat. This type of sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles undergo a relaxation phase.

Central Sleep Apnea: This type of sleep apnea occurs when the brain is not able to send proper signals to control breathing.

Complex Sleep Apnea: This types of sleep apnea, as the name suggests, is far more complex than the two types mentioned above as this is the combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

The various signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are enumerated below:

The most prominent and common symptom that occurs in people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea is snoring.

People with central sleep apnea wake up abruptly in the middle of the night and they usually face a Shortness of Breath in that time period.

While sleeping you might face breathing cessation but it is not possible for you to witness it yourself. Usually, some other person notices it and brings it to your concern.

Getting a Headache in the morning is also one of the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Insomnia is also one of the common symptoms.

People with sleep apnea often wake up with a completely dry mouth. A sore throat is also common.

Forgetting things quite often, less interest towards sex and frequent mood changes are also seen in those suffering from sleep apnea.

What are the possible causes of sleep apnea?

As already stated before, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles undergo a relaxation phase. Now let me explain the reason to you. These muscles support many things including the side walls of your throat, the uvula, your tongue and your tonsils. When these muscles relax, the air passage becomes narrow and so the oxygen intake decreases too. This makes your brain send you a signal to wake up and when you do wake up you feel short of breath.

On the other hand, central sleep apnea occurs when the brain is not able to send your breathing muscles the necessary signal and thus you literally stop breathing for a moment or two.

At Crystal Dental Centre, our doctors will diagnose whether your symptoms show that you are suffering from sleep apnea and then prescribe the necessary line of treatment for you.

Authored by Dr. ABHIMANYU CHATURVEDI