Sleep Apnea

In Britain, any condition that has a serious and long term negative effect on your ability to function in day-to-day life is considered a disability under the Equality Act 2000. Sleep Apnea can be registered as, and treated as, a disability in many cases.

Most CPAP machines have a feature built into them that beeps to let the user know there is an air leak. This can be something simple such as a mask that is not well seated or sealed. It could also be a tear in the hose that is leaking air. A kink in the hose that is preventing the air from passing may also cause this. Start there. If you continue to have problems, contact your therapy provider or physician to trouble shoot further causes.

One of my favorite sources for information is Wikipedia. Wikipedia will give you a basic understanding of sleep apena. If you have any nurse friends or checking with your own DR can also give you current information.

It doesn't stop it, but it can limit the extent of snoring.

A good CPAP machine will detect snoring and adjust the airflow to stop or limit the snores.

There are a couple ways to find out the answer. One I would suggest is to talk to someone who has a Cpap machine. But as I looked online I found that the top five are Zzz-PAP (PMI Probasics)IntelliPAP Standard (DeVilbiss)Standard Plus (DeVilbiss)PR Plus (Philips Respironics) S9 Elite (Resmed)

A.

It is when your oxygen level drops down below normal levels while you are asleep. My husband was diagnosed 5 years ago with severe sleep apnea and had his tonsils, adenoids, and some of his soft pallet removed. For him he would stop breathing for up to forty seconds while he was asleep which would cause his oxygen level to drop in the 60's. This is a serious disorder that can lead to death if not treated properly.

B.

There are two types of sleep apnea that require diagnosis by a physician...usually a team of physicians at a sleep study clinic/center: 1. central sleep apnea (CSA) which involves the breathing center in the brain (central nervous system) and is the least common form and 2. obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which involves an obstruction to normal breathing during sleep and is the most common form of the condition. OSA is described in "A" above.

Sleep Apnea is an obstruction to your airways when you sleep. As a result, you may stop breathing when you are asleep, which, as stated above, is a frightening thought considering that death can actually result from it. Sleep Apnea is also associated with other diseases, such as hypertension, cardiac failure, obesity, depression, COPD, just to name a few. Having a sleep study prescribed to you by your doctor is the first step in dealing with this disorder.

Answer also: Apnea literally means "no breath." An episode of sleep apnea may last anywhere from ten seconds to two or three minutes. The victim often thrashes around gasping for air and then falls asleep again, only to repeat the apnea hundreds of times per night. There are three types of apnea.

Central apnea occurs when the brain's respiratory control center doesn't give the command to breathe regularly. With obstructive sleep apnea, the upper airway at the back of the throat actually closes, blocking air movement. Mixed apnea is a combination of the two and is the most common diagnosis. The victim of any type of apnea can end up in virtually the same condition as someone who stayed up all night, every night!

Those with sleep apnea may live dangerous lives, for they can blank out while on the job or at the wheel of their automobile. They may suffer from high blood pressure, an enlarged heart, and an increased risk of stroke or heart failure. Dr. William Dement of Stanford University estimates that 38,000 Americans die each year from the cardiovascular consequences of sleep apnea.

While most common in obese men over 40 years old, sleep apnea can occur at any age, even in young children. There are several treatments-all best supervised by a medical sleep specialist. The most effective nonsurgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is the use of a device to create continuous positive airway pressure. The patient wears a mask over his nose at night, and a pressure regulator (custom-set by a physician) delivers just the amount of air needed to prevent apnea. If this does not rectify the condition, there are several surgical approaches, including using laser or radio-frequency waves to remove excess tissue from the throat. (from 2/8/04 Awake magazine article "Recognizing Sleep Disorders" on Jehovah's Witnesses official website)

Not directly. Sleep apnea can lead to a variety of different conditions that themselves are the cause of other symptoms and conditions. Primarily sleep apnea directly results in lack of sleep, or serious reduction of proper sleep. This reduction or loss of sleep can be the result of system break downs all over the body, and creates stress. Stress is a common element of migraines, so...it can lead to it.

Yes its very common to expierence sleep apnea while awake.

but consult a doctor to be on the safe side

It's actually not good to fall asleep in 5 minutes. If you are able to fall asleep within 5 minutes of going to bed, that is a sign that you are sleep deprived and could be a result of a hidden sleep disorder.

Falling asleep should take about 10-15 minutes. To do so, make sure you're going to bed and waking up every day at the same time (even on weekends), your room is at a cool, comfortable temperature and is dark. Also avoid using electronics an hour before bed because the light emanating from them will cease the production of melatonin, which is a hormone that makes you sleepy.

No.

Narcoleptics are not narcoleptics because their sleep was interrupted or otherwise affected by sleep apnea. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally.


Some narcoleptics might have sleep apnea, but there is no cause-and-effect relationship.

If you have a milder form of sleep apnea you may be able to cure it by some simple lifestyle change such as losing any extra weight, or quitting smoking if you smoke. Also avoiding alcohol and other sleeping medicines may help. Sleeping on your side instead of back or using a nasal spray before sleeping may also help. Check with your doctor to find out what form of sleep apnea you have.

Sleep Apnea can be fatal. It can become very severe. If you can't breathe, your heart may stop pumping. Normally, if your heart stops, it's for a three to five second moment. If longer, you may die. In conclusion, sleep apnea is no joking matter and, yes, can be fatal.

You are probably thinking of Narcolepsy, which is the tendancy to fall asleep unexpectedly.

The purpose of a CPAP mask is to better the sleep of those diagnosed with sleep apnea. A CPAP machine provides a steady stream of oxygen through the nose and the throat while he/she sleeps. There are many different kinds of machines for each particular person based on their needs. CPAP machines eliminate snoring issues, and have also proven to lower blood pressure the following day for people who use them.

My understanding is that losing weight can help with sleep apnea. It usually requires exercise, which always helps one sleep. And the reduction in excess fat can reduce difficulty in breathing and snoring, which is also helpful.

The sleep apnea doesn't directly cause weight gain. Usually it is the other way around. But sleep apnea can indirectly cause weight gain by making you tired throughout the day and thus less likely to exercise.

Obstructive sleep apnea affects 18 million people and is more common among overweight males over age 40. But it has been known to affect otherwise healthy men, women and children of any age group. If you are frequently tired upon waking and throughout the day or if you have trouble staying asleep at night, ask yourself these questions:

• Have I been told that I snore or stop breathing during sleep?
• Do I wake up throughout the night or constantly turn from side to side?
• Have I been told that my legs or arms jerk while I'm sleeping?
• Do I make abrupt snorting noises during sleep?
• Do I feel tired or fall asleep during the day?

If you answered "yes" to any or all of these questions, you could have sleep apnea, and it is important that you discuss such symptoms with your doctor.

Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=2b718b7b-bc65-424a-9621-d337d23aef0f&LandingID=fc6eb1da-98e4-43c7-bb9f-09c17e2a005d

No, because it uses pressure to aid breathing. If two people are connected to one source of pressure, it will either not be enough pressure (assuming both people are breathing in and out in unison) or if one person is breathing in whilst the other out, the pressure will be mis-placed.

It has several origins. Apnea is most likely one of them.

Sleep apnea is potentially deadly because you can die if you stop breathing in your sleep. Sleep apnea is not contagious, since it is physiological, not a viral or bacterial disease.

In some uncommon cases, yes.

Sleep apnea can lead to hormone inbalances and insulin-resistance.

Insulin-resistance can cause difficulties in conception and reproduction. It is uncommon but very possible.

Hormone inbalances will also make reproduction very difficult, but it will not cause permanent infertility because hormone levels can be corrected.

Lack of a decent sleep cycle can also cause mental stress on your body. Any form of stress lessens your conception chances, but do not cause infertility.

The best advice you can get from here is to visit a doctor or health professional.

The cardiovascular, urinary, reproductive, neurolgy, brain, endocrine, senses( sight and new research show hearing), gastrointestinal, muscular, and the lymphatic. So the entire body is affected if the body doe not receive enough sleep