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Sleep Apnea - Can it Be Serious?

Until a family member discovered he had Sleep Apnea, we had no explanation for his constant state of being exhausted.

In my brother's case, he was only in his early 20ths, not a typical age for this condition. It was, in fact his wife who became concerned with his loud, excessive snoring which frequently jolted him awake in the middle of the night.

Sleep Apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood.

Regardless of type, a person affected with this Sleep Disorder is rarely, if ever, aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. Their breathing can become abnormally slow and shallow or stop, during which time they can make persistent effort to overcome the airway obstruction resulting in loud snoring, grunting, or choking.

It is usually a spouse or someone who witnesses the episodes who first suspect the existence of this condition due to the person's constant fatigue and can also be very frightening to someone who watches a family member gasp for air.

Understanding The Condition:

There are two main types of Sleep Apnea; Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

OSA is a more common form of this condition resulting from a blockage of the breathing passages. Tissue from the nose, throat or mouth can fall over the airway during sleep. This obstruction limits the oxygen flow causing interference with normal night time breathing.This condition can lead to Sleep Apnea Snoring. Sleeping on the back causes the tissue blockage and breathing obstruction. A typical pattern starts with snoring; then breathing can stop for a period of several seconds. This is followed by a sudden awakening and gasping for air.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

CSA is a more rare form of this condition where the brain's respiratory control centers are imbalanced resulting in the neurological feedback mechanism not reacting quickly enough to maintain an even respiratory rate.The sufferer will stop breathing then start again, making no effort to breathe during the pause. Following this the breathing may be faster for a period of time.

Getting Diagnosed

Both OSA and CSA are very serious conditions which are associated with adverse effects like high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. It is essential to be assessed by a professional healthcare provider.

Thankfully my brother was diagnosed and received the treatment he needed. This made an amazing change in the quality of his daily living. Remember the sooner these conditions are diagnosed the better.

The good news is that there are Natural Solutions for Sleep Disorders for those who want to understand and explore all their options.

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