Sleep Apnea: The Symptoms And Treatment

By Kathleen Burch


Apnea, in terms of the Greek word, is defined as "without breath." A person who has sleep apnea stops breathing more than once during his sleep.

By knowing what to look out for, you will know if you have sleep apnea. You should be aware if you get exhausted in the daytime, get a general feeling of fatigue, or have headaches frequently. Sleep apnea causes lack of sleep, which causes these symptoms. If your spouse notices intense snoring or long pauses between breaths when you sleep, then you may have sleep apnea.

Only a licensed physician can positively identify sleep apnea. He would ask you questions and may recommend a sleep study by having you spend the night in a supervised sleep centre. This facility is where it will be determined if you have sleep apnea or not. There will be a series of monitoring devices that will be connected to your body so your breathing patterns will be detected.

When sleep apnea is left untreated, it can be very dangerous. In fact, it can lead to heart disease, a stroke or other major health problems. In addition to the obvious health risks, sleep apnea may lessen your immune system's ability to fight disease or the loss of sleep can cause you to be impaired when driving. Sleep apnea treatments may include sleeping on your side instead of your back, giving up alcohol and cigarettes, ridding your home of allergens, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program or the use of a doctor recommended at-home apnea treatment.

The Sleep Genie, a doctor-recommended product, can give comfort to those who are sufferers of sleep apnea. It is made from nylon Lycra blend, so it supports the jaw comfortable, preventing the mouth from opening, therefore preventing snoring. The Sleep Genie is not considered a cure for sleep apnea, but it does make you feel more comfortable during sleep, especially when it's used with the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which provides air pressure continuously to prevent the blockage of air passages. When using the CPAP machine, individuals must keep their mouths closed so the air won't escape, so the use of the Sleep Genie with the machine really is beneficial.

Note that this article was written for informational purposes only. It must not be considered professional medical advice. Never start any treatment without consulting your doctor first.




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