Sleep is a naturally occurring part of human’s life cycle and has extensive effects on health. When we sleep, the human body cycles through the REM and the non-REM sleep among other cycles. Such cycles aid in the restoration of our bodies hence the need to ensure that our bodies are cyclic by engaging in exercises to maintain alertness all through the day.
Sleep apnea is a type of sleep problem that is prevalent all over the world with several million people being diagnosed with the condition. It makes the breathing rhythm of a person change during sleep, and can result in the person not having a good night’s rest. This leads to sleep during the day and one finds him or herself feeling more tired than usual, which can be discouraging to leads to poor quality of life.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can be described as a sleep disorder that is characterised by how a person breathes in their sleep. It is featuring interruption of breathing, or taking very few breaths while asleep at night. These breaks may take several seconds or as long as one minute and can occur up to several times an hour. This may result into multiple fragmentations and therefore poor quality of sleep.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This is the most known of all the types of sleep apnea. Where the muscles at the back of the throat relax and thus the airway is restricted in some way. When this occurs their breathing is briefly stopped hence low oxygen levels in the blood occur as a result .
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): In this form of sleep apnea, the brain fails to generate the information to the breathing muscles hence ceasing to function normally. This causes apnea during sleep in that there are interval of limited or no breathing at all.
Impacts of sleep apnea on energy levels
Energy levels are generally low in sufferers of the condition as compared to normal people during the day. It was found, therefore, that individuals with sleep apnea were likely to have a low-quality sleep pattern since their sleep cycle was frequently disrupted thus they likely to wake up tired in the morning.
The special studies have proven that as a result of apnea one undergoes lower energy levels, poor concentration and increased probability of accidents and injuries due to drowsiness during the daytime.
Additionally, sleep apnea has been linked to several other health issues, including:
- High blood pressure: It also results to high blood pressure and can cause heart disease and stroke.
- Diabetes: Sleep apnea has impact on glucose metabolism that hinder the body to effectively control the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.
- Depression and anxiety: It is evident that sleep districts breeds … Read more
It is evident that sleep districts breeds feelings of irritability, anxiety, and even depression. - Impaired immune system: According to major health studies, sleep apnea has an adverse effect on the immune system thus making it even hard for the body to fight diseases and ailments.
Treatments for Sleep Apnea
Treatments of the sleep apnea include weight loss, oral and maxillofacial devices and finally continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The greatest treatment plan will depend of the severity of the condition and the patient’s need for the therapy.
1. Lifestyle modifications may bring improvement in sleep apnea:
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking
- Non consumption of alcohol and sedatives
- Sleeping on your side
2. Dental appliances
Some sleep apnea patients can benefit from using a dental appliance as a treatment method. These appliances are used during night-time sleep and the principle of their work lays in repositioning of the lower jaw and tongue in order to keep the airway open.
3. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy
The most popular modality of treatment for sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy. It entails the use of a mask that covers the mouth and/or nose and the tool provides a continuous flow of air pressure to keep the airway clear during sleep. It can entirely enhance the quality of sleep and bring down the symptoms of sleep apnea to a large extent.
4. Surgery
For example, surgery could be called for for the treating of sleep apnea, or a condition of sleeping disorder. This can incorporate the elimination of additional tissue that may exist in the throat or else the proper setting for the jaw to paintbrush the airway all through the night.
Conclusion
Sleep apnea is another primary sleep disorder that affects the amount of rest a person gains as well as their vitality. But if a person gets a proper diagnosis and the necessary treatment, he will be able to restore the quality of his sleep, and therefore increase the level of energy.
It has been stated that sleep apnea falls into one of the main categories of intervention which includes lifestyle modification, usage of a dental appliance, CPAP intervention or surgery. Ideally, everyone should seek the services of a health care provider, in an effort to identify the best treatment plan which suits a particular person.
Treating sleep apnea and improving sleep quality can have profound effects on overall health, including increased energy levels, better mental health, and even the remission of certain diseases. If you find yourself feeling excessively sleepy or fatigued during the day, it’s crucial to get evaluated for sleep apnea.
Addressing this condition early not only enhances your daily well-being but also prevents potential long-term health complications. Learn more about effective treatments for sleep apnea and improve your sleep health at apacdsm.com
