Sleep apnea is one of the most serious sleeping disorders that can affect people. During the night, as one is asleep, you stop breathing because the process is interrupted. Those affected by sleep apnea have their breathing interrupted many times a night, sometimes even hundreds of times a night. There are two types of sleep apnea. The first kind is central sleep apnea and the second kind is obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is the rarer of the two and is caused when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common and is caused by direct blockage of the airway, primarily caused when the soft tissues in the throat collapse.

Those most at risk for sleep apnea are men, individuals who are overweight, those over the age of 40, those with large neck sizes, and anyone with a previous family history of sleep apnea. Some of the side effects include drowsiness, not feeling refreshed, being chronically tired, and work performance being affected. The more serious effects include stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and hypertension. Seeing how sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition, it is important to look at a variety of sleep apnea treatments.

In mild cases, losing some weight, abstaining from alcohol and drugs before bed, quitting smoking, and changing sleeping positions can all resolve sleep apnea. There is also a specially designed pillow that practically eliminates mild forms of apnea. For more severe cases, more options are at your disposal to try and beat the condition. The most well known device is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine (CPAP). The CPAP is a mask that is placed on the face and delivers a continuous flow of oxygen into the mouth or nose. The pressure from the air flowing in keeps the airway open and sleep apnea will not occur. Patients that have used this claim remarkable improvement, but note that it is cumbersome to sleep with a mask on. The CPAP is often used with overweight patients. Another option is a type of surgery. There are surgeries to correct a deviated septum if you happen to have one, and also types to reduce or eliminate the excess soft tissue that is at the back of the throat. It is this tissue that collapses and causes airway blockage.

In the end, it is important to seek treatment for sleep apnea. You may not even know if you suffer from it, but if you suspect you do, go to a doctor. They can test and see if you do, leading you to help beat the problem. Simple changes in one’s lifestyle can make all the difference in sleeping better. If you have a more serious case of sleep apnea, the CPAP machine or a surgery may be the best bet for you. Regardless, if you suffer from this serious sleep related ailment, seek help from a medical professional. There are various sleep apnea treatments out there for everyone, including you.