Breathing Problems While Sleeping
The average person's breath patterns during sleep fluctuate, and some sleepers may even experience occasional periods of 10 seconds or more when no breaths are taken. However, a breathing irregularity that compromises the amount of oxygen that is transported to a person's body or decreases the overall quality of sleep is considered an issue to be taken seriously. Sleep apnea is the interruption of breathing during sleep and, if left untreated, can be life threatening.
Sleep Apnea: Overview
Sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive involuntary pauses in breathing during sleep. Some breathing pauses may last only 10 seconds while others may last up to a minute. Many sleep apnea patients experience between 20 and 30 breathing interruption events per hour. Some sleep apnea sufferers may stop breathing over 400 times in just one night. The medical field has distinguished three types of adult sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to obstruction of a person's airway during sleep. The obstruction may be partial or complete, and it is often due to sleep-related, involuntary relaxation of the muscles in the throat, tongue and soft palate. A person with obstructive sleep apnea is likely to snore heavily and experience frequent unconscious changes from deep to light sleep in one session.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea but can be equally problematic. In central sleep apnea, a person's brain occasionally and temporarily fails to send breathe signals to the diaphragm and chest muscles. Someone with central sleep apnea may or may not snore and is more likely to be aware of frequent awakenings during the night than someone who has obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is more common among the elderly and frequently goes unnoticed.
Mixed Sleep Apnea
Mixed sleep apnea is experienced by someone who has a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea. People who have mixed apnea are likely to snore due to the obstructive sleep apnea.
Snoring
Snoring is actually a sign of abnormal breathing during sleep. The sound comes from airway obstruction, however brief it may be. While not all people who snore necessarily have sleep apnea, they may eventually develop it. Snoring is more common among older people, men and those who are overweight. Additionally, men are more likely than women to develop a sleep-related breathing disorder.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is characterized by one or a combination of the following symptoms: heavy snoring; periods during which the sleeper stop breathing and wakes with a snort when breathing restarts; falling asleep during activities such as driving, talking, or working; and being very sleepy throughout the day. Because most people are unaware that they snore or breathing abnormally during sleep, someone else, such as a spouse, is often the first to notice the tell-tale signs of sleep apnea.
Treatment
Those who suspect sleep apnea may undergo a sleep test during which time their breathing is monitored to determine their breathing patterns. If warranted, your doctor may prescribe a breathing device known as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Although you should seek professional medical diagnosis and treatment if you have sleep apnea, some mild cases may be helped with the following precautions: losing weight, stop smoking, do not take sleeping aids or medications, avoid alcohol prior to sleep and sleep on your side rather than your back.
Tags: breathing, problems, sleeping, during sleep, obstructive sleep, sleep apnea, sleep apnea, breathing during, breathing during sleep, obstructive sleep apnea, apnea characterized
