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( Sleep apnea)
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. Each episode, called an apnea (Greek ?p???a (ápnoia), from a- (a-), privative, p??e?? (pnéein), to breathe), lasts long enough so that one or more breaths are missed, and such episodes occur repeatedly throughout sleep. The standard definition of any apneic event includes a minimum 10 second interval between breaths, with either a neurological arousal (a 3-second or greater shift in EEG frequency, measured at C3, C4, O1, or O2), a blood oxygen desaturation of 3-4% or greater, or both arousal and desaturation. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram, or a "Sleep Study" which is often conducted by a pulmnologist. Clinically significant levels of sleep apnea are defined as five or more episodes per hour of any type of apnea (from the polysomnogram). There are three distinct forms of sleep apnea central, obstructive, and complex (i.e., a combination of central and obstructive) constituting 0.4%, 84% and 15% of cases respectively.[1] Breathing is interrupted by the lack of respiratory effort in central sleep apnea; in obstructive sleep apnea, breathing is interrupted by a physical block to airflow despite respiratory effort. In complex (or "mixed") sleep apnea, there is a transition from central to obstructive features during the events themselves. Regardless of type, the individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. Sleep apnea is recognized as a problem by others witnessing the individual during episodes or is suspected because of its effects on the body (sequelae). Symptoms may be present for years (or even decades) without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance. The first reports in the medical literature of what is now called obstructive sleep apnea date only from 1965, when it was independently described by French and German investigators. However, the clinical picture of this condition has long been recognized as a character trait, without an understanding of the disease process. The term “Pickwickian syndrome” that is sometimes used for the syndrome was coined by the famous early 20th century physician, William Osler, who must have been a reader of Charles Dickens. The description of Joe, "the fat boy" in Dickens's novel, The Pickwick Papers, is an accurate clinical picture of adult obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
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Sleep apnea Subcategories
Sleep apnea Articles
Scientists Show That a Common Sleep Disorder Causes Brain Damage by George Venables
Do you tend to feel tired throughout the day? Are you generally fatigued even if you think you’ve had a good night’s sleep? Irritable? Forgetful? Unable to concentrate? Maybe that sleep wasn’t as good as you thought. Sleep Apnoea or apno...
Dental Treatments for Sleep Apnea by Thomas Hedge
There are many different ways to treat sleep apnea ranging from medicines, facial masks, and dental treatments. But before you can treat it, you must understand what sleep apnea is. The simple definition of sleep apnea is the disruption of breathin...
Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Treatments by Patricia Woloch
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans. Although the problem is slowly becoming a mainstream topic, there are still so many people who have never heard of sleep apnea. In fact, it is estimated that as many as
Can your Snoring Be Treated with Dental Devices? by Rene Moller
There are many reasons for sleep deprivation, especially with the ongoing demands of endless busy schedules. With all of the many reasons for sleep deprivation to be happening in your life, could snoring...
Sleep Apnea Treatments by Patricia Woloch
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition that causes periods of stopped breathing during the night. Obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, refers to airway blockage that causes a sufferer to stray from their usual breathing pattern by pausing for an unu...
Benefits Of Weight Loss by Gary Grewal
In today’s world health is a major issue or concern. More and more people are becoming health conscious and are looking for means to get a perfectly built body. This has led to the opening of many commercial institutions that aid in reducing weight a...
Snoring, Sleep Apnea and PCOS by Paula Ryder
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common disorders of the female endocrine system. It is estimated that 5-10% of all women and as many as 17% of Hispanic women struggle with PCOS symptoms. Characterized by an abnormally high level...
Lose Your Weight Or Lose Your Life by Frances Lewis
The American Medical Association now classifies obesity as an epidemic. In our culture of super-sized meals and all-you-can-eat entries, the statistic is two out of three U. S. adults are now overweight. This is up from the 1960’s when fewer than one...
A Look At The Oregon Snoring And Sleep Apnea Programs by Muna wa Wanjiru
Snoring is a not a disease but it may be a symptom of some disease. Researches at Oregon Health and Science University have shown some factors that cause snoring. They are poor muscle tone, long uvula, long soft palate, nose blocks...
Could there be a relationship between the imbalance in the iron status and Clinical Depression? by Helena Ederveen
brainlongevity@iinet.net.au.
Best regards
Helena Ederveen
http://www.apneasleep-snoringtreatments.com Could there be a relationship between the imbalance in the iron status and Clinical Depression?
Discussing Body Iron is difficult...
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