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Sleep apnea

58 UNDERSTAND SLEEP SCIENCE
Ameer Ameer
June 25, 2022
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Table of Contents

Sleep apnea

Tired all the time, but can’t sleep? Then, you may have a severe condition Sleep Apnea. But, relax, every problem has a solution, and you can do it.

Did you know that not getting enough sleep has been linked to obesity and Diabetes? And did you know that there are simple tests for sleep apnea? A common disorder that causes snoring and breathing problems during sleep? If you think you or just your partner could be experiencing symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), please talk to your doctor. Unfortunately, more than 80% of people who suffer from OSA do not even realize they have it.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports these other potential drawbacks of insufficient rest:

  • Increased risk for motor vehicle accidents, work-related accidents, and medical errors
  • Decreased energy and concentration
  • Diminished productivity at work and in schools
  • Impaired social activities, relationships, and intimacy because you’re tired all the time—even after a full night’s sleep.

Cheyne stokes

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a specific form of neurogenic hyperventilation. It is a cyclical variation of depth and rate of breathing characterized by progressively more profound and faster breathing through the inhalation phase followed by a gradual decrease in respiration until breathing stops during the exhalation phase. The pattern begins with a few shallow breaths, followed by deeper breathing; later, there is quick and deep breathing. Next, normal breathing ensues at a medium pace; finally, airflow decreases to zero during exhalation, the phases taking an hour or more each.

The respiratory pattern can be identified by recording the patient’s pulse (e.g., using an esophageal manometry). It is often associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s’.

How do I know if I have Cheyne stokes?

If you experience periods of abnormally fast or slow breathing during sleep, you may have Cheyne-Stokes Respiration (CSR). It’s a type of sleep apnea.

People with CSR temporarily stop repeatedly breathing throughout the night. They usually don’t remember having these episodes because they’re in deep sleep when it happens, but their partner might notice the stoppages.

If your loved one experiences repeated breathing pauses during sleep, please talk to their doctor. Who can rule out other possible conditions that cause similar symptoms and determine treatment options for this severe disorder?

  • Unconsciousness due to low blood oxygen levels
  • Irregular heart rhythms from high dioxide levels in the body

Sleep apnea treatment without CPAP

There are alternative treatments for sleep apnea without using a CPAP machine.

A dental appliance worn at night can help keep air passages open by repositioning lower jaw and tongue tissues.

Nasal surgery, such as upper lip lifts or turbinate reduction, can reduce snoring and improve breathing abnormalities.

Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight, may also ease symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Sleep apnea symptoms

Many people experiencing sleep apnea don’t know it. But if you have loud snoring, chronic tiredness during the day, frequent bouts of wakefulness at night, or morning headaches, then you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

High blood pressure High cholesterol Migraine headaches Diabetes 

Obstructive sleep apnea

Overview

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and serious sleep disorder that occurs when your breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep. Your throat muscles and tongue relax and block your upper airway. As a result, your breathing is repeatedly interrupted and decreases to a low level for 10 seconds or longer. 

These pauses in breathing, called apneas (AP-nee-uhs), can occur 30 times or more an hour. This disrupts the normal flow of oxygen to your brain and body and diminishes the quality of your sleep.

  • Loud snoring
  • Snorting sounds during sleep
  • Waking after falling asleep 

Cheyne stokes respiration

Cheyne-Stokes respirations are a specific form of neurogenic hyperventilation. They are characterized by progressively more profound and faster breathing through the inhalation phase and a gradual decrease in respiration until breathing stops during the exhalation phase. The pattern begins with a few shallow breaths, followed by deeper breathing; later, there is quick and deep breathing; next, normal breathing ensues at a medium pace; finally, airflow decreases to zero during exhalation–the phases taking an hour or more each.

What Causes Sleep Apnea

The more common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the muscles in your throat relax and block your airway during sleep. As a result, your breathing pauses and creates a shortage of oxygen and increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in your blood.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

A CPAP device includes:

  • A small pump.
  • A nasal mask or full-face mask.
  • Tubing.
  • Headgear you attach to your bedside table while you’re sleeping.

When you are asleep, the machine delivers pressurized air through the tubing into your nose so that it inflates your airway enough for you to breathe without difficulty. 

High blood pressure

Blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted, and many people experience chest pain. Heart failure occurs when the weakened heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of other organs in your body, such as your kidneys and liver.

High blood pressure also can damage arteries in the brain by causing them to harden and narrow. This can lead to a stroke or transient ischemic attack (also called TIA or mini-stroke). 

Effects of sleep apnea

Lack of oxygen to the heart during a period of apnea may lead to angina, arrhythmias, and rarely myocardial infarction (heart attack). The risk increases with age and those with underlying coronary artery disease or cardiac valvular heart disease. In most cases, the effects are temporary as long as breathing is restored before the brain suffers from a lack of oxygen.

However, repeated incidents can lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and heart. A study suggests that people with untreated OSA are nearly three times more likely to suffer heart failure than those who do not have sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP):

A CPAP device includes a small pump, a nasal mask or full-face mask, tubing, and headgear you attach to your bedside table while you’re sleeping. When you are asleep, the machine delivers pressurized air through the tubing into your nose so that it inflates your airway enough for you to breathe without difficulty.

Breathing Rate While Sleeping

A regular breathing rate when asleep at night is between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. If your breathing is faster than this, it may indicate sleep apnea or another type of sleep disorder. 

Benefits of Getting Proper A Sleep

Proper rest is vital to our health in more ways than one. When the brain is rejuvenated with quality sleep, we function better during the day in terms of moods, memory recall, concentration, etc. In addition, every moment counts for children who require constant supervision during waking hours like infants & toddlers!

Difficulty Breathing When Lying Down

When lying down at night, some people experience shortness of breath. If you have trouble breathing when lying flat, it may be a sign of heart or lung disease. It can also be caused by edema (fluid buildup), commonly associated with heart failure, liver disease, and congestive heart failure. 

Alternative treatments for insomnia

Melatonin has been used to relieve symptoms in people with chronic sleep disorders, but its effectiveness in treating insomnia is unknown. Much more information is needed about the benefits and safety of melatonin before it can be recommended as a treatment for insomnia.

Insomnia causes

People who have trouble sleeping often experience one or more of the following symptoms: difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night and having difficulty going back to sleep, feeling tired and unrested during the day, and not feeling refreshed after a night’s rest.

Common causes of insomnia include psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety, lack of exercise; caffeine consumption close to bedtime; disrupted sleep-wake cycles (also known as circadian rhythm disturbance). Physiological problems include:

  • Arthritis, chronic pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), menopause, restless leg syndrome, thyroid conditions, or asthma.
  • Drug and alcohol use.
  • Sleep apnea.
  • Poor sleep habits.

Insomnia Symptoms

Treatment of insomnia may involve lifestyle changes, behavior modification, medications to promote sleepiness, medical devices to assist with sleeping, psychiatric treatment, etc. Symptoms of insomnia are categorized into four types according to their duration. 

Acute insomnia occurs when a person has trouble sleeping for one or two nights. It can last anywhere from three days to more than a month. Subacute episodes usually last between one week and several months. Finally, chronic insomnia is ongoing, lasting at least three months.

Sleep Apnea & Weight Loss

Weight loss is one of the best treatments for moderate to severe sleep apnea. If you are overweight, losing weight may also help with any snoring caused by extra tissue in your throat or narrowing of the upper airway.

Can weight loss cure sleep apnea?

The short answer is “no,” — but the good news is that weight loss may ease or even cure your sleep apnea. That’s because being overweight can increase the amount of pressure on your throat, making it more likely that the airway will collapse during sleep. If you’re obese, losing just ten percent of your body weight could reduce symptoms by about fifty percent. 

Can CPAP machines cause nightmares?

Yes. Nightmares are still one of the possible side effects of using this therapy (although rare) and why some patients stick with an alternative treatment like oral appliances instead. Other possible side effects include:

Dry mouth, dry eyes, and nasal congestion can all be variable in patients taking this treatment.

Can CPAP machines cause insomnia?

Unfortunately, yes. This is likely only to happen with people starting on this form of therapy. But it can happen at any time if the mask doesn’t fit properly or becomes loose during sleep due to head movement or hair becoming wrapped around the straps. Possible side effects are generally mild, with just a few being more problematic, like dry mouth, nosebleeds, sore throats, etc.

What Causes Cheyne Stokes Breathing

The causes of Cheyne-Stokes breathing are not entirely known, but it is associated with damage to the part of the brain that controls breathing. This is usually due to a stroke, sometimes caused by bleeding in the brain or ischemia (trauma). It may also affect people who have seizures, infections in the brain, or nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
Cheyne stokes can also occur without any other neurological problems. There are two main reasons why this happens: heart failure and sleep apnea... 

What Is Cheyne Stokes Breathing?

A typical breathing pattern has a regular, rhythmic in-and-out pattern. People who have Cheyne-Stokes breathing gradually decrease and increase in respiratory rate that typically occurs with each breath. This pattern can occur while awake or during the early stages of sleep. It typically worsens when a person is sleeping at night.

Can sleep apnea cause high blood pressure?

Yes. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have been found to have a higher risk for heart attack, heart failure, stroke, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, diabetes, and sudden death. 

Can sleep apnea cause weight gain?

Yes. Sleep apnea causes multiple disruptions in sleep, all of which can lead to excess hunger and increased calorie consumption. 

What is sleep apnea heart rate?

Sleep apnea causes high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, and sudden death. 

Can sleep apnea cause dry mouth?

Yes. In some cases, the soft palate grows large enough to block breathing. One possible side effect of this is that it may irritate the tissues lining the roof of the mouth (the palate), making them very dry.

Conclusion

Based On the provided information, it can be concluded that there are a few side effects to CPAP usage, including dry mouth, nosebleeds, sore throats, etc. Sleep apnea is potentially dangerous, resulting in higher risks of heart attack, heart failure, Diabetes, and high blood pressure.

It is clear from the sources cited above that CPAP machines do not cause insomnia so long as they are correctly set up and adjusted by a professional. Cheyne-Stokes’ breathing has been proven to affect people with brain damage or disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or seizures. 

There is no evidence proving that Cheyne-Stokes breathing causes weight gain, but it does contribute to longer-term health problems such as heart failure and heart failure. Sleep apnea causes multiple disruptions in sleep, all of which can lead to excess hunger and increased calorie consumption.

Sleep apnea causes high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, and sudden death. Therefore it is clear that CPAP usage does not hurt a person’s health as long as they are correctly fitted by a professional for the first time.

It contributes to long-term health problems such as heart failure and heart attacks. Sleep apnea CAN cause dry mouth if the soft palate grows large enough to block breathing. In some cases, this may irritate the tissues lining the roof of the mouth (the palate), making them very dry.

It can conclude that sleep apnea is potentially dangerous, resulting in higher risks of heart attack, heart failure, Diabetes, and high blood pressure. We hope you liked the information.

Ameer
Ameer

Ameer is the content director of Sleepingmentor, which means he not only reviews new mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, and mattress toppers every week, but also curates all the comparisons, best of pages, reviews pages, and vs pages on the site. He takes a straightforward, honest approach to his reviews. He covers sleep science by researching a lot on Google and finding meaningful content which entertains his users.

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