Sleep apnea is a disorder resulting in pauses in a person’s normal breathing pattern while sleeping. Breathing stops for ten seconds or more several times each hour. Once diagnosed, treatment options include lifestyle and diet changes, using a sleep apnea machine, or surgery as a last resort.

The muscles in the throat keep the airway open while sleeping. This dangerous disorder results when the muscles do not perform their job. The airway can become obstructed if the person has a narrow throat and airway, a large neck, nasal obstruction.

Signs that a person suffers from this condition include snoring, snorting, gasping, and difficulty breathing while sleeping. Daytime tiredness results since the person does not enjoy a deep sleep and keeps waking up. This causes a higher risk of accidents while driving or while at work, as well as health risks such as diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, and heart attacks. Psychological effects experienced are depression, memory loss, and poor attention span. Additional side effects are headaches after sleeping, constant waking while sleeping to urinate, insomnia, and swelling of the legs. Lack of sleep also contributes to obesity due to the lack of motivation from being tired during the daytime.

A sleep study is conducted to determine if one suffers from this disorder. A common treatment for sleep apnea besides lifestyle and diet changes is the use of the CPAP machine. This electric-powered machine pressurizes the airway. This helps keep the patient’s airway open. Either a mask that fits over the nose can be used or another design that is inserted into the nose. Both types of breathing interfaces do not cover the mouth thus enabling the person to breathe through their mouth and not suffocate if the power should turn off.

Using a home sleep apnea machine is not for everyone suffering from this condition. Some sufferers feel claustrophobic and obstructed while hooked to the machine. Physical effects include a stuffy, dry, or runny nose, dry mouth, congestion, sinusitis, sneezing, and nosebleeds. Using a nasal spray, saline solution, or attaching a heated humidifier will remedy the nasal symptoms. Using a strap to keep the mouth closed or using the warm air humidifier will prevent dry mouth. The mask should be changed if it causes any skin irritation or allergic reaction. The machine should also be regularly cleaned with white vinegar and rinsed with water. The filter should also be changed when dirty.

Surgery may be required for those with physical reasons causing this disorder. Surgically removing or shrinking the excess tissue at the back of the throat can be performed. A plastic shim can also be inserted to stiffen the tissue. Surgery on the nose and sinuses can also be done if a blockage is found to be the cause for this condition.

It is important to discuss the possibility of having this disorder with the family physician if the sufferer is experiencing some of the tell-tale signs. Using sleep apnea machines will greatly improve a person’s health both physically and mentally.