Sleep Apnea - Sleep Aids And Depression

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Sleep Apnea has often been compared to a form of suffocation. Indeed, the word Apnea is of Greek origin, and translated into English quite literally means 'want of breath.' Individuals who suffer from this type of sleep disorder will experience episodes during the night in which they cease to breath for short periods of time. After gasping for air for anywhere between 10 and 25 seconds, the body's natural warning bells will sound, causing the person to jolt back into consciousness in order to take a breath.

There are two main types of sleep apnea, namely obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea and occurs when the tissues of the uvula and soft palate collapse during sleep and block the airway. In comparison, central sleep apnea has nothing to do with blockages of the airway, but is the result of the brain's failure to send signals to the muscles responsible for breathing. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the two main types of apnea and occurs only in very rare cases.

Sleep apnea can be a terrifying condition, both for those individuals suffering from it and for their partners who are witness to it. In a single evening, sufferers may have up to 350 episodes which include symptoms such as gasping for breath and jerking limbs. This in turn results in disrupted sleep patterns, which over time can cause all sorts of complications such as daytime sleeping, loss of energy, mental fatigue, and depression to name but a few.

In the event that the disorder remains untreated, more serious complications may arise. These include elevated blood pressure, cognitive dysfunction, impotence and in some cases even strokes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, sufferers may also put the lives of others at risk by falling asleep whilst operating machinery or driving.

Treatment of the condition may vary according to the severity of symptoms. Mild cases may be improved through simple lifestyle changes such as weight loss and abstinence from alcoholic beverages and nicotine. More severe situations may require more drastic forms of treatment such as dental and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) units to be worn throughout the night. Finally, if all other forms of treatment fail, sleep apnea sufferers may be forced to resort to surgery such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and somnoplasty.

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