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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sleep apnea — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, treatment of central and obstructive sleep apnea

Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night's sleep.

Sleep apnea occurs in two main types:

Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relaxCentral sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathingAdditionally, some people have complex sleep apnea, which is a combination of both.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor. Treatment is necessary to avoid heart problems and other complications.

: Symptoms :
By Mayo Clinic staff

The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making the type of sleep apnea more difficult to determine. The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Loud snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea
Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which more likely indicates central sleep apnea
Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
Morning headache
Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
When to see a doctor
Consult a medical professional if you experience, or if your partner observes, the following:

Snoring loud enough to disturb the sleep of others or yourself
Shortness of breath that awakens you from sleep
Intermittent pauses in your breathing during sleep
Excessive daytime drowsiness, which may cause you to fall asleep while you're working, watching television or even driving
Many people don't think of snoring as a sign of something potentially serious, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. But be sure to talk to your doctor if you experience loud snoring, especially snoring that's punctuated by periods of silence.

Ask your doctor about any sleep problem that leaves you chronically fatigued, sleepy and irritable. Excessive daytime drowsiness (hypersomnia) may be due to other disorders, such as narcolepsy.

: Definition :
By Mayo Clinic staff

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night's sleep.

Sleep apnea occurs in two main types:

Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relaxCentral sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathingAdditionally, some people have complex sleep apnea, which is a combination of both.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor. Treatment is necessary to avoid heart problems and other complications.

# For much more on Sleep Apnea pleave visit Mayo Clinic at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleep-apnea/DS00148/DSECTION=symptoms


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Uploaded by americanosteopathic on Nov 17, 2008

Joe Giaimo, D.O., an osteopathic physician specializing in pulmonary and sleep medicine, discusses the signs of sleep apnea, what happens when sleep apnea occurs and how you may be able to prevent it.

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