The BP Monitor » Sleep http://thebpmonitor.com How's Your Blood Pressure? Issues, support, and treatments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:30:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 An Overview of Obstructive Sleep Apneahttp://thebpmonitor.com/an-overview-of-obstructive-sleep-apnea/ http://thebpmonitor.com/an-overview-of-obstructive-sleep-apnea/#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:31:56 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/an-overview-of-obstructive-sleep-apnea/ Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea, and is caused by an obstruction within the airways as a person sleeps.

There may be many reasons why a person suffers from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and here are some of them:
– Narrow Airways: A person may have narrow airways by nature, which although doesn’t affect them by day, as the body relaxes during the night, they tend to close up too much causing a person to wake up fighting for breath.
– Inflammation of the airways: A persons airways may become inflamed for many a reason. Smoking, for one, can cause the upper airways to become inflamed, thus narrower. Infections and scar tissue can also narrow the airways.
– Obesity: An obese person isn’t simply obese on the outside, but also the inside, and excessive fat in the throat tissues can cause a person breathing problems, particularly during the relaxed sleep period.

When a person suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, what happens is this: Due to the obstruction within the airways, a persons body will continue trying to draw air into the lungs, but will struggle until the brain, in a desperate attempt to re-open a persons airways, breaks a person out of their deep sleep thus tensing up the airways as in the conscious state to allow a person to draw breath. As a person drifts back into deep sleep and the airways relax and obstruct once more, the same thing happens. This may happen repeatedly throughout the night, thus never allowing a person to enter deep sleep for long periods of time.

The result is a person will wake up feeling drowsy and perhaps have a headache from the lack of oxygen. Whilst a person may know the morning they wake whether they have slept well or not according to how they feel, they may be completely unaware they experienced sporadic stoppages in breathing throughout the night, as it all happens in a sleep-like state.

Not only does a person with obstructive sleep apnea have a much higher risk of being involved in daytime accidents due to the inevitable effects of tiredness, but other health issues can develop over the longer term if this disorder isn’t treated. Some of the other health issues are:

-Heart failure: Because the lungs are working harder to surmount the obstruction and draw breath, the heart also has to work harder. The result is much stress is placed on the heart which after a long time may result in the heart failing.

-Increased Risk of Strokes / Heart Attacks: As already mentioned, the heart can become damaged which increases the susceptibility to strokes.

-Irregular Heart Beat

-Weakened Immune System: A person needs deep sleep to recharge their system. Without good sleep, the whole body begins to deteriorate, and this includes your immune system. A weaker immune system increases the risk of contracting viral infections and other infections.

-Type 2 Diabetes: Sleep apnea can lead to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin, this not allowing glucose to enter parts of the body to be used as energy.
– High Blood Pressure
– Arterial Disease (Hypertension): Due to prolonged high blood pressure, a person may develop arterial disease.
– Increased Carbon Dioxide in the Blood (Hypercapnia)
– Weight Gain
– Sexual Dysfunction
– Other Mental Problems: A person suffering from a lack of sleep is going to feel bad both physically and emotionally, and this can lead to depression, memory impairment, mood swings and more.

]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/an-overview-of-obstructive-sleep-apnea/feed/ 0 How Sleep Apnea Can Affect a Relationshiphttp://thebpmonitor.com/how-sleep-apnea-can-affect-a-relationship/ http://thebpmonitor.com/how-sleep-apnea-can-affect-a-relationship/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:02:51 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/how-sleep-apnea-can-affect-a-relationship/ There are so many people that have to deal with stress of everyday life. There are so many problems that a person can face and it is sometimes very hard on the body. For some people, they are finding it harder and harder to get a good nights rest at night. When a person is dealing with sleep apnea, they are going to have a harder time with relationships and keeping them.
Many that deal with sleep apnea are depressed and will suffer from terrible mood swings. They are going to experience these problems at work and at home. For a lot of them, they are going to find it hard to keep friends or make new ones. This is due to the fact that they are going to have mood swings and get irritated more easily. This is because they are not getting the appropriate amount of sleep that their body requires.
Having sleep apnea is going to be hard on work relationships. Many times tempers will be shorter and people that are not getting the sleep that they need will become more irritable and will find themselves not getting along with their co-workers and business partners. This can make for a very stressful situation and one that will only get worse if the problem is not resolved.
Many times, not getting enough sleep will effect the way that a person will be able to deal with everyday problems that may happen with their family members and their children. Many parents and spouses will have a hard time dealing with problems that can occur on a normal day. They may find that they loose their temper easily and get worked up over the small things that happen.
Another problem with sleep apnea and relationships is that a person that is taking on the stress of dealing with it will have a harder time performing sexuality. There are many people that will not have an interest in having sex with their partner. This is going to take a toll on any relationship over time. This is a good reason why a person should start to think about getting help with their sleep apnea so that they can have a happy and healthy relationship with their spouse or partner.
Many people that have to deal with lack of sleep due to sleep apnea are going to find it harder to make a relationship work. This is a big problem for many people and will only add to the stress of it all. Getting help with it and finding ways to make the sleep apnea better is the only way that a person can get on with their lives and be happy and healthy in their relationships with anyone personal or business related.

31 Year Old Online Marketing Manager
Free WP Autoposter Plugins
]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/how-sleep-apnea-can-affect-a-relationship/feed/ 0 What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea ?http://thebpmonitor.com/what-is-obstructive-sleep-apnea/ http://thebpmonitor.com/what-is-obstructive-sleep-apnea/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:58:02 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/what-is-obstructive-sleep-apnea/ Your snoring can be more than an annoyance to your partner. It can also be a sign of a serious sleep disorder that can have long terms effects on your health. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when the upper airway becomes obstructed by a narrowing of the respiratory passages.
It can disrupt your breathing and unknowingly wake you up countless times during the night. Consequently, you won’t get the deep sleep that you need to function well when awake. In this article, we’ll detail the symptoms of this disorder and your apnea treatment options.
The most common complaints associated with obstructive sleep apnea are loud snoring, disrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Patients with apnea suffer from fragmented sleep and may develop cardiovascular abnormalities because of the repetitive cycles of snoring, airway collapse and waking up.
Although most patients are overweight and have a short, thick neck, some are of normal weight but have a small, receding jaw. Because many patients are not aware of their heavy snoring and nocturnal arousals, this nocturnal sleep problem may remain undiagnosed.
Sleep apnea can come with other health conditions. Cardiovascular disease is common in patients. Hypertension and obesity increase the risk of cardiac disease and are frequent findings in patients with this type of disorder. Patients with apnea who are smokers may also have coronary artery disease and obstructive airway disease.
Psychosocial problems are common in patients who have apnea. These patients often have depression, mood changes, poor memory, irritability and impaired concentration. Nocturnal panic attacks have also been associated with this type of disorder.
Sleep medicine isn’t enough to treat apnea. Specialists usually recommend weight loss, and dental devices that modify the position of the tongue or jaw. Some doctors may prescribe the use of a CPAP mask. With this method, straps hold the mask firmly over the nose and the CPAP machine that generates the positive airway pressure sits on a table next to the bed.
CPAP treatment is used in most patients who have apnea. Jaw surgery is the most invasive surgical procedure used to treat this malady. The surgical procedure may be limited to pulling the tongue forward. An extensive procedure may entail moving both the mandible and maxilla. Extensive jaw surgery has a higher complication rate and a longer recovery time.
Sleepiness during the day is perhaps the least worrisome of all the side effects. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, anxiety disorders, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe but it’s best to consult a clinic as soon as possible for the appropriate apnea treatment.

Discover more information about obstructive sleep apnea from Mike Selvon educational portal. We appreciate your feedback at our sleep disorder treatment blog.
Free WP Autoposter Plugins
]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/what-is-obstructive-sleep-apnea/feed/ 0 Treating Sleep Apnea Without Any Painhttp://thebpmonitor.com/treating-sleep-apnea-without-any-pain/ http://thebpmonitor.com/treating-sleep-apnea-without-any-pain/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:37:13 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/treating-sleep-apnea-without-any-pain/ Of all sleep disorders, sleep apnea is one of the most serious. When you stop breathing during your sleep, it may result in less oxygen in your blood. Over time, this lack of oxygen can lead to serious health problems. Besides persistent sleepiness, apneas can lead to depression, diabetes and even death.
There are several sleep apnea treatment methods available to deal with mild, moderate and severe cases of the disorder. The first step toward a healthier life and a better night of sleep is reading this article for more information on treating sleep apnea.
There are four basic approaches to apnea treatment, and they can be used in conjunction with one another. The simplest method involves changing the circumstances which may be causing the condition. The patient is advised to lose weight, quit smoking, avoid alcohol and sedative drugs, have a regular sleep schedule and try to sleep only on their side.
The most common treatment option is using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in the upper airway to support and hold the airway open. This involves wearing a CPAP mask over the nose.
The mask provides a supply of continuously flowing air via a flexible plastic hose from a CPAP machine. Studies have shown that when patients use CPAP, they not only slept better and were more alert during the day, but there were significant improvements in the size, shape and pumping action of their hearts.
The third apnea treatment option is the use of a dental splint to prevent the jaw and tongue from moving back and narrowing the airway. However, oral devices have not proved to be as effective as CPAP and the appliances can be uncomfortable. The fourth and most extreme form of treatment is surgery.
This kind of procedure involves removal of the part of the soft palate that hangs down in the back of the throat, as well as the tonsils if present, and other soft tissue if it is felt to be excessive. This procedure is usually reserved for patients with severe sleep apnea.
The toughest challenge in treating sleep apnea is getting the patient to comply. Because they often find the CPAP device cumbersome, many patients do not use it consistently or for long enough periods while sleeping. Researchers have found that improvements were maximized after 7.5 hours of use each night.
Patients who actively pursued treatment reported better sleep, fewer morning headaches, a better performance on the job and improved mood. The lifestyle modifications are also a great benefit. Losing weight, drinking in moderation and quitting smoking all improve your overall health.
Along with these methods for treating sleep apnea, there is research being done on other techniques and tools like implants. However, while a number of medical devices and procedures have received FDA clearance, sleep doctors aren’t currently recommending them because there’s not yet enough evidence to support their use. It’s best to go with your doctor’s recommendations and stay informed about advances in treatments becoming available.

Discover more information about treating sleep apnea from Mike Selvon educational portal. We appreciate your feedback at our sleep disorder treatment blog.
Free WP Autoposter Plugins
]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/treating-sleep-apnea-without-any-pain/feed/ 0 Sleep Apnea – the Sleep Disorder That’s Hard to Tracehttp://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-sleep-disorder-thats-hard-to-trace/ http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-sleep-disorder-thats-hard-to-trace/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:11:31 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-sleep-disorder-thats-hard-to-trace/ One of the most common sleep disorders in the world is sleep apnea, affecting millions of people each year.  Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing while they are asleep, for at least 10 seconds according to many medical journals.  This can happen multiple times during the night, sometimes resulting in the person awakening and sometimes with the person remaining asleep but acting restless during the night.Sleep apnea can result in chronic fatigue for the person affected by the condition.  Because the person’s inability to breathe is disrupting their sleep at night, whether they awaken or not, the person is not getting the quality sleep that will allow them to awake refreshed in the morning.  After consecutive nights of this occurring, the person will become fatigued, irritable, and drowsy during the day.Sleep apnea can be a difficult condition to diagnose because the person may be unaware that they stop breathing in their sleep.  All that they know is that they may wake up in the middle of the night for no reason and even when they do sleep through the night, they are still tired when they awake.  It may take months or years to determine the actual cause of the person’s restlessness at night and during that time the person will continue to experience episodes of sleep apnea and may even become conditioned to its effects.Treating sleep apnea can also be difficult because of the nature of the condition.  Different treatments may be used but their effectiveness can be difficult to judge without a third party observing the sleeping behavior of the affected person.  The condition is usually diagnosed by a loved one observing the interrupted sleep pattern of the person.  The loved one also the person that observes the effects of the treatment and tells the doctor whether or not it is working.The treatments used for sleep apnea cover a wide variety of options.  Choosing the option that is best for a person’s condition will depend on the type of sleep apnea affecting them and how severe the condition is.  Some people are helped by changing the position that they sleep in at night while others will need some sort of medical device to help them keep their airways open while they sleep.  If the person’s condition is severe, then there are medical and surgical options that can be used to give the patient some relief from their condition.  Sleep apnea is a condition that can be devastating to the people that it affects, but there are ways to reduce the effects that sleep apnea has on a person’s life.

Having a sleeping disorder can be a nuisance but can also reduce you to a fatigued wreck of your forme self. Sleep apnea is one of the more serious sleep disorders that usually requires medical assistance. Learn more about sleep apnea right now.
Free Wordpress Plugins
]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-sleep-disorder-thats-hard-to-trace/feed/ 0 Sleep Apnea – The Silent Sleep Disorderhttp://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-silent-sleep-disorder/ http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-silent-sleep-disorder/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:03:18 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-silent-sleep-disorder/ One of the most common sleep disorders in the world is sleep apnea, affecting millions of people each year. Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing while they are asleep, for at least 10 seconds according to many medical journals. This can happen multiple times during the night, sometimes resulting in the person awakening and sometimes with the person remaining asleep but acting restless during the night.
Sleep apnea can result in chronic fatigue for the person affected by the condition. Because the person’s inability to breathe is disrupting their sleep at night, whether they awaken or not, the person is not getting the quality sleep that will allow them to awake refreshed in the morning. Ideally each of us needs 3 hours of uniterrupted sleep for our bodys to properly recharge and repair itself during the night. Constant interruption of this resting and healing phase while we’re asleep can cause the sufferer constant hardship through extreme fatigue. The persons health will also start to suffer after several months of such problems. After consecutive nights of this occurring, the person will become fatigued, irritable, and drowsy during the day.
Sleep apnea can be a difficult condition to diagnose because the person may be unaware that they stop breathing in their sleep- simply because they’re asleep and have no awareness that anything has actually happened to them at all. All that they know is that they may wake up in the middle of the night for no reason and even when they do sleep through the night, they are still tired when they awake. It may take months or years to determine the actual cause of the person’s restlessness at night and during that time the person will continue to experience episodes of sleep apnea and may even become conditioned to its effects.
Treating sleep apnea can also be difficult because of the nature of the condition. Different treatments may be used but their effectiveness can be difficult to judge without a third party observing the sleeping behavior of the affected person. The condition is usually diagnosed by a loved one observing the interrupted sleep pattern of the person. The loved one also the person that observes the effects of the treatment and tells the doctor whether or not it is working.
The treatments used for sleep apnea cover a wide variety of options. Choosing the option that is best for a person’s condition will depend on the type of sleep apnea affecting them and how severe the condition is. Some people are helped by changing the position that they sleep in at night while others will need some sort of medical device to help them keep their airways open while they sleep. If the person’s condition is severe, then there are medical and surgical options that can be used to give the patient some relief from their condition. Sleep apnea is a condition that can be devastating to the people that it affects, but there are ways to reduce the effects that sleep apnea has on a person’s life.

]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-the-silent-sleep-disorder/feed/ 0 Breathing Machines for Sleep Apneahttp://thebpmonitor.com/breathing-machines-for-sleep-apnea/ http://thebpmonitor.com/breathing-machines-for-sleep-apnea/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:34:14 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/breathing-machines-for-sleep-apnea/ Sleep apnea is the restriction of the airway when you are lying down. When you are in bed, ready to get some rest for the night you are tired. As you sleep, you might snore, and with that sleep, apnea could be occurring. Sleep apnea is the restriction of the breathing, by too much flesh, restriction because of your tonsils or adenoids or any number of other conditions. To aid you in treating your sleep apnea, and to keep you breathing while you are sleeping, breathing machines are often times recommended. One type of therapy is the continuous positive airway pressure. This is a flow of air, to the airway in your body, through the nose or the mouth that is going to provide oxygen to your body. As the continued pressure on the airway is maintained, the airway is going to remain open while you are sleeping. This is a therapy that is used on thousands of people, and that is getting results without having to have surgery. If you are not experiencing a total blockage of the nasal or airway passages, the continuous positive airway pressure is one that could work for your situation. Sleep apnea involves your body stopping breathing. Even the short stops that your body overcomes will harm and put additional stress on your heart. Opening the airways will aid in treatment of your airway blockage so you can breath easier while sleeping. Often times the pressure related airway opening is going to take place with a mask over the mouth, or a tube inserted into the nose, or it could be a combination of the two. Talking with your family doctor is going to be vital in overcoming and learning more about your personal problems about snoring, sleep apnea and if you are suffering from additional symptoms that are affects of having sleep apnea, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. What should you do if you think you have sleep apnea, or breathing problems while you are sleeping? You should take a visit with your family doctor, have your tonsils checked, and have your adenoids checked in case they are enlarged. Ask to see a specialist if you still are concerned about your condition and you feel your doctor does not understand your questions or problems. Take a sleep study with the specialist and learn more about your own sleeping habits and if you are living with sleep apnea. Learn from the specialist about what your options are, and make your choices from there so you can get the rest you need and the sleep you have always wanted, peacefully!To get a good nights sleep please visit:www.disorders-sleep.infoAuthor Darren MalloryC/O www.akashop.com

31 Year Old Online Marketing Manager
baby toys
]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/breathing-machines-for-sleep-apnea/feed/ 0 Sleep Apnea Interrupting Your Breathinghttp://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-interrupting-your-breathing/ http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-interrupting-your-breathing/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:36:45 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-interrupting-your-breathing/ Sleep apnea, fairly common among adults, is a disorder in which the soft tissue located in the back of the throat narrows and repeatedly closes during the time you are asleep, obstructing the breathing passages. This obstruction results in a reduction in or a total cessation of breathing during sleep.
The well-wired human brain responds to the interruption in breathing by causing you to wake up in order to resume breathing. These periods of interruption in breathing lasting at least 10 seconds or more are known as apnea.
Because apnea episodes can occur several hundred times each night, sleep becomes interrupted and completely ineffective leaving you feeling tired and irritable the following morning. You may not even realize that you have been awakened during the night, yet you wake in the morning feeling like you have been run over by a Mac truck!
There are two different types of sleep apnea, the most common of the two is known as obstructive sleep apnea, while the other is known as central sleep apnea. A diagnosis of sleep apnea is based on a person’s medical history and the results of medical exams that can be used to confirm the diagnosis. Sleep apnea may be treated with either surgical or non-surgical methods.
Apnea interrupts sleep because when apnea occurs your brain causes you to either wake into a more shallow level of sleep or it causes you to wake completely, both of which will cause you starting to breathe again.
Enduring many nights of interrupted sleep because of apnea can lead to other physical issues, as well, such as complete and total exhaustion, excessive irritability and frustration with daily life.
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that requires intervention from your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate and individualized treatment plan. Don’t settle for interrupted sleep; put sleep apnea to rest today.

]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-interrupting-your-breathing/feed/ 0 The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Can be Hard to Recognizehttp://thebpmonitor.com/the-symptoms-of-sleep-apnea-can-be-hard-to-recognize/ http://thebpmonitor.com/the-symptoms-of-sleep-apnea-can-be-hard-to-recognize/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:50:45 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/the-symptoms-of-sleep-apnea-can-be-hard-to-recognize/ Sleep apnea symptoms are most commonly seen in men over the age of forty who are overweight but they can appear at any time in both men and women and are now being seen more and more in children.Sleep apnea’s most obvious symptom is snoring which is difficult to spot yourself and usually needs to be brought to your attention by a sleeping partner. There are however many reasons for snoring and the mere fact that you snore does not itself mean that you are suffering from sleep apnea. However, the majority of sleep apnea sufferers do snore.The second most obvious symptom of sleep apnea is undue tiredness during the day. Sleep apnea sufferers stop breathing frequentlyduring sleep and the body’s natural reaction is to wake you sufficiently for you to start breathing again, but not sufficiently for you to be conscious of the fact that you are being aroused. This means that your sleep is constantly interrupted and thus very light so that you do not get the deep sleep that you need. The result of this is that you grow increasingly tired during the day.Left untreated the effects of sleep apnea start to emerge and you will begin to experience further symptoms that could include headaches (in particular in the morning), touchiness and depression. You could also notice that you are beginning to put on weight.Yet another less obvious sign of sleep apnea is a rise in blood pressure that can lead to a number of cardiovascular problems. If you are one of the increasing number of people who are now monitoring their own blood pressure regularly at home then you should detect this fairly easily but, otherwise, it will not be found until you attend the doctor to have a routine physical examination.Another symptom is that of growing problems with memory retention and learning difficulties. This is once again not something which is easy for you to see yourself but other people may well notice that you are not as fast on the uptake as you used to be.Lastly, a number of sleep apnea sufferers will notice a drop in sexual function that can lead to impotency.Any of these symptoms by themselves can of course ne indicative of almost any problem you care to mention. When you begin to notice these symptoms appearing alongside one another however then there is a good chance that you are suffering from sleep apnea and you should talk to your doctor and think about being tested for sleep apnea.

Visit Help-Me-To-Sleep.com for the latest information on using a sleep apnea oral device and to discover a natural insomnia cure
mortgages Spain
]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/the-symptoms-of-sleep-apnea-can-be-hard-to-recognize/feed/ 0 Sleep Apnea Cureshttp://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-cures/ http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-cures/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:04:03 +0000 htnguy http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-cures/ Whilst sleep apnea is a very serious and progressive disorder, it is also highly treatable in a variety of different ways. How sleep apnea is treated depends entirely on the cause and type of sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is by nature an obstruction within the airways which inhibits breathing during sleep. For this type of sleep apnea cures may be available to some people, it all depends on what is causing the obstruction.

In the case of the clinically obese, the tissues of the airways can bulk out due to fat tissue, causing the air passage to become narrower making it harder for air to pass through. If an obese person lost as much of their weight as possible, their air passages would be much more open and they would breathe much easier.

Quitting smoking or drinking can also help some suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Smoking inflames the tissues of the airways causing narrowing, whilst alcohol is a depressant causing the muscles and tissues of the airways to relax and close.

One of the most bizarre treatments for some Obstructive Sleep Apnea sufferers is playing the Australian instrument the didgeridoo. Because of how the didgeridoo is played, over time the throat muscles and tissues tone up so aren’t so prone to collapsing during sleep. As strange as this treatment may be, it really is worth a shot as studies show it can drastically improve or even cure Obstructive Sleep Apnea in some.

Surgery may also be used to treat some Obstructive Sleep Apnea sufferers by surgically removing or reducing the obstruction thus widening the airways. Commonly, the tonsils or adenoids aren’t helping matters so are removed. Devices are also sometimes used which can force the lower jaw forward during sleep, thus opening the airways, whilst some devices may hold the tongue in place to prevent it from flopping back over the airways during sleep.

For other people, there are mechanical treatments such as sleeping whilst hooked up to a CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) system. This device works simply by keeping the airways open with air pressure.

Another tip for people suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea is to lie on your side during sleep. By lying on your back, the tissues of the throat and the tongue tend to collapse backwards causing obstruction. Lying on your side this doesn’t happen so much. Remembering this whilst you are awake and reading is one thing, but you are still likely to end up lying on your back at some point during sleep. For this there is another bizarre yet extremely effective tactic you can employ. If you have pyjama trousers with back pockets you can put a tennis ball inside each pocket. Now, if during the course of sleep you attempt to lie on your back, you will find this uncomfortable and instinctively manoeuvre to lie on your side again.

If you don’t have these kinds of pyjamas, you can always modify some you do have to accommodate a tennis ball or two.

If the cause of obstruction can be identified, then the suitable form of treatment can be provided.

Central Sleep Apnea isn’t a physical obstruction, but a glitch in the brains signals which result in the lungs not been given the instruction to breathe from time to time. A person may go for seconds or even a few minutes without drawing breath. Unfortunately, as this is a neurological issue, there is no permanent fix CPAP may sometimes be used to treat Central Sleep Apnea, although depending on the individual, a person will usually be put on a course of prescribed drugs which they may respond extremely well to.

]]> http://thebpmonitor.com/sleep-apnea-cures/feed/ 0