Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a medical condition where someone actually stops breathing for short periods of time while they are sleeping.  Snoring is very often a symptom of sleep apnea.  However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea

Any situation where someone stops breathing regularly, even for short periods of time, is serious.

The pauses in breathing can cause more health problems than a simple case of snoring.  Our bodies are meant to have a regular flow of oxygen and when we stop breathing we are depriving our system of that required component.

When a person with sleep apnea stops breathing during their sleep, they risk increased blood pressure,  very poor quality sleep, and often feel very tired during the day.  The pauses in breathing are often very noticeable to anyone with whom they share a bed and it is usually only that person who knows a problem exists.

If you sleep with someone you suspect has sleep apnea, it’s important that you let them know that you think their breathing stops while they sleep.  They should seek a doctor’s diagnosis to find the right treatment for their condition.

In other articles, we talk about how easy it is to stop a snoring problem by diagnosing the cause and applying the right treatment.  The same applies to sleep apnea.  Get help finding the cause of the sleep apnea and your doctor can help find the best treatment for your condition.

There are several types of sleep apnea and all types can be diagnosed with a sleep study.  Treatments include the use of a CPAP mask or surgery.  Surgery, of course, presents its own risks but each person needs to be responsible for choosing their preferred method of treatment with the advice of their doctor.