Sleep Apnea Information - A ring side view of a deadly disorder

Sleep Apnea (Apnoea)is a sleep disorder characterized by episodes of non-respiration during sleep that typically last 10 seconds each, occurring 5 or more times per hour. The sleep apnea information in this article is intended as an overview of the condition and its effects.

The Treacherous Trio – Forms of Sleep Apnea

The term ‘Apnea’ is derived from the Greek meaning ‘want of breath’ and if you have ever seen someone with sleep apnea having an episode, that is exactly what they look like, someone in want of breath. The information pertaining to the different types of sleep apnea throws some light on the reasons for the shutdown in breathing during those precious ten seconds. Central Sleep Apnea - The brain and the nerves responsible for regulating breathing fail to signal the respiratory muscles to breathe impairing regular breathing. This is a rare form of Apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – OSA is the more a common syndrome where the airway in the upper respiratory tract is blocked resulting in a momentary interruption of breathing. Obstruction is usually caused by a physical condition such as being overweight or having a small tongue or mouth.

Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea – this form of sleep apnea is indicative of a person suffering from a combination of both central and obstructive sleep apnea where the condition starts with a breathing failure and ends up with the air passage being blocked.

Ominous Outcomes of Sleep Apnea

The words ‘side effects’ have a dangerous connotation when it involves sleep apnea information as stated below: Sleep apnea information and symptoms – Sleep Apnea paves the way for several ailments such as hypertension, heart disease, strokes, congestive heart failure, pulmonary arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), tachycardia (rapid increase in heartbeat), diabetes, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the bloodstream), and myocardial infarction (lack of proper blood flow to part of the heart). Some of these side effects can prove fatal.

Psychological Disorders – Sleep apnea is known to cause affective disorders like anxiety, depression, mood swings,and personality disorders.

Driving Disasters – Fatal Automobile accidents have resulted due to slower reflexes, impaired judgement, drowsy driving, exhaustion, and sleep derivation caused by sleep apnea. Information available on auto accidents clearly indicates that people diagnosed with sleep apnea are six times more likely to be involved in a car wreck, which is a deadly statistical data to overlook.

Relationship Rues – Sleep apnea is a disturbing bedfellow for most partners. Imagine getting your sleep disturbed for an hour every night due to your partner’s loud snoring instead of their gentle cuddles lulling you to sleep, besides having to regularly deal with their mood swings and depressive behavior. Many marriages have ended up in divorce due to direct or indirect effects of sleep apnea.

Basic sleep apnea information is essential to proceed with gaining knowledge on diagnosis and the treatment of the disorder to avoid the dangerous side effects that have the potential to ruin our lives.