Sleep Apnea - A Silent Epidemic

SLEEP APNEA – A SILENT EPIDEMIC 

Sleep- a state where awareness of environmental stimuli is reduced and a physiological behavior that is common in all animal species. It forms around one third of a human life.Sleep is not for luxury rather it is a necessity of our body. Experts estimate that as much as 75 % of human growth hormone is released during sleep. It is essential for survival as prolonged sleep deprivation leads to severe physical impairment followed by  cognitive loss and eventually death. 

Most of us face no problem in falling asleep .However, many people have trouble sleeping.  These problems can be because of sleep apnea .

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder. It happens when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep. Due to this, their brain and the rest of the body don’t get enough oxygen. Sleep apnea is growing like an epidemic. It’s estimated that around 4% of people suffer from this disorder. Sleep disorder is caused due to change in breathing pattern. It has a long term effect on our behavior, intellect, communication, sex life, day time performance. 

Sleep apnea is common among adults above 40 years of age. Children suffering from , recurrent allergy, Asthma snore as well and they may suffer from sleep apnea. Due to this , children are unable to perform well in school. They become irritable hence their demeanor gets affected. While the  symptoms can range from annoying to potentially dangerous.

What causes sleep apnea ?

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles of the upper airway relax and the tongue falls back limiting the amount of air a person can inhale. In most cases, this causes a person to snore as the tissue at the back of your throat begins to vibrate due to the excess force. It may also cause the person to gasp or choke causing them to wake up briefly. This can occur in people who have excess fat in their necks, which exerts pressure on the airway.  Likewise high blood pressure, being overweight and old age can also be the cause of this disorder. The impact of untreated sleep apnea on your overall health can be serious and even deadly.

Symptoms of sleep apnea:-

It can be difficult for someone with sleep apnea to detect their own problem as most of the symptoms of the disorder occur while sleeping. However, some of the common signs one can look out for are:

• Loud snoring

• Daytime tiredness

• Frequent napping

• Frequent awakenings

• Morning headaches

• Restless sleeping

Treatment for sleep apnea:-

Sleep apnea can affect your productivity in the long run. Making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more, quitting smoking or drinking less, can lessen the symptoms. However, people often find they have the energy to make those changes only after they’re able to get a good night’s sleep. That’s where treatment comes in and plays a very crucial role. Help for sleep apnea starts with a visit to your primary care doctor. He or she can refer you to a specialist for a sleep study.To eliminate snoring and prevent sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend a device called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP machine delivers just enough air pressure to a mask to keep your upper airway passages open, preventing snoring and sleep apnea. Polysomnography is also recommended by experts. It is a multi parametric test used in the study of sleep.

Conclusively, a healthy sleep leads to a healthy lifestyle, improved efficiency and a healthy body. So prevent yourself and your loved ones from such disorders. Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms.This machine and the test, is easily available at Jhawar Chest , Allergy , Asthma, Bronchoscopy and Sleep Study Center.

For further details contact:- 

9827033089 , 9424611137, 0731- 2560011

114,Navneet Plaza first floor, Old Palasia, Indore- 452010