On a tiresome day, everyone would want a goodnight’s sleep to help get over the troubles of the day. This reason justifies why sleep is very vital to every human being and creatures at large. Just think about what will happen if you have problems when it comes to sleep. This would be dangerous to the body’s overall well-being, as research shows individuals should regularly receive 8 hours of sleep per night. Of the sleep-related problems that disturb people, the most common one may be sleep apnea. Many people often suffer from this condition without even knowing it. To treat sleep apnea in Huntington Beach, be sure to contact Orange Coast Dental Specialty. For a better understanding of this condition, here is what you should know.
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What is sleep apnea?
Every individual has to sleep. Sleeping should be comfortable, but sometimes it’s not when an individual has breathing problems that make their sleep uncomfortable. Generally, sleep apnea can be described as a disorder that alters the breathing patterns when an individual is sleeping. The condition makes individuals’ breathing stop or start while they are in the middle of sleep.
What are the different types of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is classified into three distinctive groups. They include the following:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is a disorder characterized by the relaxation of the throat muscle when an individual is sleeping.
- Central Sleep Apnea. It is a dangerous condition since the brain is involved. It usually happens when the brain fails to send the correct information to all muscles that control the breathing process.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome. It is a hazardous condition as it combines both obstructive and central sleep apnea symptoms. The throat muscles fail to relax, and the brain also fails to send the required information causing breathing patterns to change when an individual is sleeping.
What are the leading causes of sleep apnea?
The following are the various factors that play a significant role in causing this condition:
- Excessive body weight
- Having a large tongue
- Excessive smoking
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Having a small jaw
- Large vulva
- Large tonsils
The other leading cause is recessed chin. Individuals with a recessed chin have difficulties in breathing, leading to this condition.
What are the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea?
The following are the signs and symptoms that characterize the sleep apnea condition:
- When an individual has chronic snoring
- Insomnia
- When an individual keeps on waking up in the middle of the night
- When an individual keeps on experiencing shortness of breath, especially when they are sleeping
If you experience such symptoms, please visit a doctor immediately for treatment before the condition worsens.
What are the effects of sleep apnea?
If the condition is ignored or left untreated, an individual develops some health conditions such as:
- A high blood pressure
- Heart attacks
- Heart failure
- Stroke and depression
- Cardiac arrhythmia
How is the condition treated?
There are several ways doctors generally use to manage the condition. The main one is the use of a mouthguard or CPAP machine. A mouthguard holds the jaw in its position when an individual is sleeping, preventing the muscles from relaxing. CPAP machines make sure that the lungs have enough oxygen when an individual is sleeping.
In conclusion, sleep apnea is a severe condition, and as such, people should exercise daily to cut excess weight that is a leading cause of the disease. If the symptoms persist, please visit a doctor immediately for treatment and further checkups.
