Sleep apnea causes there to be interruptions in a patient’s breathing during sleep. These are defined by medical terminology when an individual literally stops breathing. Sleep apnea treatments are important as this disorder is a serious one, especially for patients with a weight issue.
Obstructive sleep apnea is one type of apnea that is a common problem among the elderly and morbidly obese. An oxygen mask may be required so they can breathe. In the people who are excessively overweight, this is often due to their weight bearing down on their chest and putting pressure on their lungs.
According to medical reports the population at risk are obese middle-aged males since physiology doesn’t make women potential sufferers of sleep apnea. People who fall asleep with sleep apnea go through brief periods where others think they’re not going to wake up. This is a serious disorder and potentially life threatening if not properly diagnosed. People suffering with obesity constantly have to deal with frequent episodes of paused breathing. Snoring is a common problem with people who are overweight and constant gasping for air while sleeping is another problem. Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be dangerous to the heart because of the deprivation of oxygen that keeps the circulation flowing efficiently.
Other symptoms may include:
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Moodiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Noctoria (getting up in the middle of the night to urinate)
- Increased urination
- Decreased sexual drive
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Esophageal reflux (acid reflux disease)
- Profuse heavy sweating at night.
Individuals born with Down’s Syndrome are likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea since 50% of the population that have this genetic condition have an enlarged head, adenoids, tonsils, tongue, and narrowing of the nasopharnyx.
Pharyngeal flap surgery has also been noted to cause sleep apnea in patients because of the obstruction in the breathing pattern after surgery which if not monitored can be life threatening. There are different treatments for people with sleep apnea and doctors and ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialists take the following into consideration for designing a treatment plan for those who are diagnosed with this condition.
The factors that are considered are an individual’s medical history, severity of the disorder, and the specific cause for the obstruction. Some treatments also incorporate a lifestyle change, such as avoiding alcohol and medications that can relax the nervous system.
Other lifestyle changes can be made, such as losing weight and quitting smoking. Other considerations include elevating the individual for sleeping so that breathing is easier.
If someone is suffering from sleep apnea and they are overweight then a weight reduction plan should be implemented along with suitable sleep programs. Usually they will find within a short period of time of losing weight their condition will improve. Maintaining the weight loss to improve sleep and breathing patterns comes with monitoring the food consumption and the exercise program.
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