Sleep apnea

If someone has sleep apnea, they may stop breathing while they are asleep. Sleep apnea occurs when people stop breathing during sleep, and obstructive apnea occurs when there is an obstruction in the airway, or improper breathing control by the brain contributes to this (central apnea). As a result, people run out of oxygen, which triggers a survival response that briefly awakens them so they can start breathing again. While keeping them alive, that reflex also disrupts the sleep cycle. This hinders them from getting a good night's sleep and may have other negative effects, such as straining the heart, which may have fatal results.

Symptoms

Since the signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas can overlap occasionally, it can be challenging to tell them apart. The followings are the most common warning signs and symptoms of central and obstructive sleep apnea:

A loud snore when sleeping, heavy breathing
Dry tongue when you wake up
Morning headache
Having difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Difficulty focusing while awake
Irritability

Causes

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when muscles in the head and neck relax while people are asleep, causing the surrounding tissue to press on your windpipe. That prevents air from passing through this one.

Central sleep apnea

This form of sleep apnea happens because of a problem in the brain.

Many factors, including the following, can contribute to central sleep apnea:

Heart failure
Hypoxia, a condition caused by high altitude, is low blood oxygen levels.
Nervous system damage, especially in the brainstem or parts of the spinal cord.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to regulate breathing while you sleep and to take care of any underlying health issues. The choices will vary according to the root cause and degree of the symptoms.

Alterations in way of life

Changing one's way of life is crucial for restoring regular breathing and is the first step in treatment.

They consist of:

Adopting a heart-healthy diet
Establishing restful sleeping practices
Reducing alcohol intake
Giving up smoking
Controlling weight
Online Therapy
Mandibular repositioning device (MRD)
Medication and surgery

Best Geriatric Care Therapists in India

mr. utkarsh yadav

Counselling Psychologist

EXPERIENCE: 1 YRS

ms. neha pandey

Counselling Psychologist

EXPERIENCE: 4 YRS

mrs. molly george

Psychologist

EXPERIENCE: 35 YRS

ms. swati yadav

Counselling Psychologist

EXPERIENCE: 1 YRS

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can be caused by over-relaxation of the throat muscles which blocks the upper airway and prevents air from entering the lungs. Incorrect brain signaling that results in sporadic breath pauses can also be the cause.

What are the Sleep Apnea Warning Signs?

The most common signs of sleep apnea are loud snoring, drowsiness, shortness of breath and gasping after waking up, feeling fatigued, headaches after waking up, and severe mood swings.

If you see these warning signs seek online consultation from the best clinical psychologist immediately.

What are the long term effects if sleep apnea goes untreated?

Some long-term effects if sleep apnea goes untreated are fatigue during the daytime, insomnia, risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, and frequent headaches.

Long-term effects of sleep apnea are detrimental to an individual's mental health for which they should seek online counselling with the best "psychologist near me".