Sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a pathological condition in which incidents of interrupted breathing occur, when a person sleeps. The term apnea is derived from a Greek word and  means lack of breath.
Obstructive, central, and mixed are the three types of sleep apnea, the former being the most common.
When a person is awake, the upper throat muscles keep the passage open, in order to permit the required amount of air to be inhaled. Although these muscles normally relax when we sleep, the passage should remain open enough to sustain proper breathing.
In a significant number of people this passage is narrower due to individual anatomical characteristics. In such cases, when the person sleeps and the throat muscles relax, the passage closes or gets extremely narrow for a limited period of time, preventing air to reach the lungs. This is the condition which is described as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. When obstruction happens and the air can hardly pass through, loud snoring, accompanied with laborious breath occurs.
A typical clinical image of obstructive sleep apnea includes loud snoring that starts as soon as the person falls asleep. The snoring continues at a regular rhythm for a while, occasionally getting noisier until the next phase starts. The latest is characterized by irregular, short or longer silent intervals, when no breathing function occurs. Such breathless breaks are followed by student inhalations and gasps, before snoring returns to its original pace. Such a behavior is repeated many times, when the person sleeps.
In central sleep apnea, snoring is not present, since the airway is not blocked. The problem occurs, because the brain fails to trigger the breathing function. When a person suffers from central sleep apnea and in a deep state of sleep, breath may stop for periods varying from a few seconds to one minute. The precise causes of central sleep apnea are not well known yet. Central sleep apnea, if combined with the obstructive type of the condition, results in a mixed type of the condition.
Periods of apnea are followed by abrupt and not conscious attempts on behalf of the individual to breathe. Such a condition results in inadequate or low quality sleep and may lead to drowsiness and fatigue, during the day.
Causes and risk factors for sleep apnea.
Although sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, the majority of individuals, who suffer from this condition, are over the age of forty. As much as 40% of people with obstructive sleep apnea have normal weight. Sleep apnea affects both genders. However, overweight and obese people, especially males, seem to be more susceptive to sleep apnea, presenting the so-called obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Abuse of alcohol or sedatives seem to be associated with sleep apnea. Nasal obstruction, large tongue, a narrow airway and certain shapes of the palate, jaw or neck are considered anatomic risk factors and seem to lead to sleep apnea.
Medical problems in the brain or in cervical part of the spine can cause central sleep apnea. Stroke, encephalitis, spinal accidental injuries or iatrogenic damage and arthritis, affecting the cervical spine can result in central sleep apnea.
Symptoms, consequences and signs of sleep apnea.
In most of the cases, the person, who suffers from sleep apnea, is not aware of the episodes occurring overnight. Sleep apnea can cause memory problems, fatigue, weight gain, sexual disorders and headaches. The most common consequences due to sleep apnea
are related to limited capability for concentration and attention, poor judgment and sleepiness or lethargy, all because of overnight poor sleep. This can lead to motor vehicle crashes and impaired ability for work.
Other signs that may be observed include morning headaches, personality changes, hyperactivity, automatic behavior and leg swelling in severe cases.
Complications of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea causes poor overnight oxygen supply in the blood stream. This condition is called nocturnal hypoxemia and, if untreated, may lead to cardiovascular disease. If the condition is severe enough, pulmonary hypertension may develop causing right-sighted heart failure, arrhythmias, excessive carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia), sleep deprivation, stroke and coronary heart disease.
Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
When it comes to treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the only goal for a doctor or the sufferer is to make sure that the airway will remain open, during sleep time. Weight loss and abstinence from alcohol and tranquilizers or sedatives, before bedtime, may ease or prevent sleep apnea. If these measures are unsuccessful, the use of a breathing assistance mechanical device, which keeps the airway open, may be recommended. Such devices are designed, according to the anatomical causative factor of obstructive sleep apnea.
Apart from the above means, there are machines that provide continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) through a hose and a mask, when the person sleeps.
In certain cases, surgical tretment may be chosen to resolve obstructive sleep apnea. For instance, the removal of anatomical elements, blocking the nose or hypertrophic tonsils may be very beneficial.
Medical treatment of sleep apnea.
Theophylline can be prescribed as pharmaceutical therapy of sleep apnea. Brand-names for theophylline are Theo-Dur, Theo-24, Uniphyl, Aerolate, Uniphyllin Continus and. The most common prescribed drugs of this category are the Theo-Dur and Uniphyl tablets. Theophylline is also used to treat conditions of the respiratory system, including bronchitis and asthma. The property of theophylline is that improves breathing, during sleeping period by helping the airway to remain open. If you suffer from sleep apnea and you have been prescribed Theo-Dur, you can find it online by using the
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The medicine is in a generic form.
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Treatment for central sleep apnea.
The treatment for central sleep apnea requires a different approach, since it is not a mechanical problem but it is the aftermath of neurogenic malfunction.
The first thing a doctor will check is whether there is any underlying condition, resulting in central sleep apnea, or not. In such cases, the causative must be resolved at the same time.
Respiratory assistance with the supply of moderate or small amounts of additional oxygen or with the CPAP method may be helpful in treatment of central sleep apnea.
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