Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea affects many people.  It is a condition where a person stops breathing while sleeping.  It can affect anyone of any age, race, ethnicity, or gender.  There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed.  The cause of each type is different and determining which type you have is necessary to see what type of treatment you should get.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea.  It is caused when the airway is physically blocked.  This can be due to the soft tissue in the back of your throat collapsing, your tongue falling in the way, excess fatty tissue, you uvula or your tonsils.  It can also occur when the throat muscles relax too much.  This blockage and the cessation of breathing has an effect on your blood oxygen levels.  Most of the time when you stop breathing your body wakes you up and you begin again.  Treatment can come from your doctor or a specialist.  The majority of people with sleep apnea have this type. 

Central sleep apnea is less common.  It is caused by a neurological disorder rather than something physical as in obstructive sleep apnea.  The brain is to blame here as it does not tell your body to breath or when it tells your body to breath the message gets interrupted and never reaches where it is supposed to.  This type of sleep apnea has the same effects as obstructive in that it reduced blood oxygen levels.  Treating central sleep apnea requires that you see a neurologist.  It is very rare for someone to have this form of sleep apnea.

Mixed apnea is a cross between obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.  It starts as a neurological condition and develops into the physical disorder.  So not only does your brain fail in telling you to breath, but also something physically block your airway.  It can be characteristic of both types.  It also has the same blood oxygen reducing effect.  You may have to see a variety of doctors and try several treatments for this type of sleep apnea.  This is the least likely form of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is as common in adults as diabetes.  It can also affect children.  It can be scary if left undiagnosed.  The lack of blood oxygen can cause very harmful effects.  If you suspect you have sleep apnea you should see your doctor.

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