1 Stop Snoring

As if the disorder is not distressing enough, the way it creeps in is even more disturbing. Before the victim even knows what is happening, sleep apnea, clearly one of the worst sleep disorders could set in. It is no wonder that the disorder is tough to diagnose resulting in the patient remaining untreated for a long time.

Snoring when left untreated usually worsens into this condition that happens when the airway narrows causing major breathing distress during sleep. Recurrent pauses in breathing make sleep a nightmarish experience.

Why are the symptoms overlooked?

One of the reasons why most patients affected with this disorder fail to detect its onset is because most of the typical features appear during sleep. Most of the time, the person sharing the bed or room notices the frequent gasps, loud and persistent snoring, choking, restless sleep and breathlessness and alarms the patient.

However the patient ultimately notices some disturbing features of the illness that take him or her to seek medical opinion. These include rapid and unexplained weight gain; mood deterioration like depression, irritability, etc; daytime tiredness and sleepiness; frequent need for urination at night and so on.

How is diagnosis done?

No matter how elaborately and accurately the experiences are reported, the doctor still insists on a test before the condition is medically confirmed. Known by several names like overnight sleep study, polysomnogram examination, etc, this is one of the most objective and reliable sources of information about the current state of health of the patient.

During this examination, several physical and physiological parameters are studied that give a detailed overview to the doctor regarding the severity of the condition, the site of obstruction in the airway and the nature of the illness the patient is suffering from.

Sleep apnea treatment: degree of severity is the deciding factor

For mild to moderate conditions:

- Weight loss including sleep apnea exercises for losing fat of the breathing muscles

- Quitting alcohol

- Altering sleeping position

- Raising pillow height

- CPAP or Continuous Positive Air Pressure therapy

- Apnea dental devices like mouth guards, etc.

Managing severe conditions:

Surgery is often the last and final option for treating severe conditions. Several options are available in this regard but some common surgeries include Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Somnoplasty, Tonsillectomy, Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), Pillar Palatal Implant, Tracheostomy, Genioglossus (tongue advancement), Maxillary or maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), Laser midline glossectomy and lingualplasty (removal of part of the tongue), Hyoid myotomy with suspension, etc.

How to be sure that it is sleep apnea?

There are several common features shared by multiple sleep disorders. For example, when some is complaining of excessive daytime sleepiness, it could mean the onset of hypersomnia, though it is also one of the primary narcolepsy symptoms.

How to clear diagnostic dilemma?

- Study the age of the patient when the illness has set in. For apnea it is usually around 50 years but with other disorders it could be much earlier.

- One of the primary causes for the onset is improper functioning of the brain; whereas another disorder could be due to dysfunctional central nervous system.

- Use of devices, changing sleeping position, dental devices and even surgery depending on the severity of the condition are the usual options for treating apnea. Therapeutic options for managing other sleep disorders would not normally call for such initiatives.

Sleep apnea is undoubtedly one of the most distressful sleep disorders. But if you remain alert and catch the elusive signs early, you can be expected to be treated early also.

If you want to know more about sleep apnea symptoms, make sure to check Douglas Kidder’s site and learn what you need to know about sleep apnea treatment.

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