The Types of Sleep Apnea
For many Americans, both men and women, sleep issues are all too common. From poor quality sleep, or snoring, to a lack of sleep entirely – sleep apnea has become one of the worst sleep conditions – affecting over 22 million Americans across the nation. Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder in which, an individual’s sleep patterns are disturbed as a result of constant interruptions in an individual’s breathing during the night. This means the brain and other vital organs, are not getting the oxygen they need to function at their peak performance. As a top sleep apnea doctor Queens’s allergist Dr. Dwayne Rollins and his team treat countless patients for sleep apnea issues every day. Sleep apnea can affect individuals at any age, even some children! Some risk factors that contribute to sleep apnea are being overweight, age (over the age of 40), having a large neck size, having a large tongue or tonsils, small jaw bone, genetics, and sinus obstructions such as a deviated septum, allergies or sinusitis. To better educate you on all there is to know about sleep apnea, Dr. Rollins, the top sleep apnea doctor Queens has to offer, offers us some important facts to know about the different types of sleep apnea.
Most often due to excess tissue blocking the airways, individuals will often snore during the night. This is a surefire sign of sleep apnea, and an important sign that an individual should seek treatment. Not only does snoring prevent your brain and vital organs from getting enough oxygen, but it can disturb your sleep as well as that of your spouse or anyone who you sleep next to or in close proximity to. If sleep apnea is left untreated, it can cayuse a number of other serious health issues, including:
· High Blood Pressure
· Stroke
· Heart Attack or Heart Failure
· Arrythmia
· Diabetes
· Depression
· Headaches
· Lack of Focus & Concentration
· Lack of Motivation
· Poor Coordination & Motor Skills
These are serious, often life-threatening conditions. In addition, sleep apnea can drastically interfere with your everyday performance at work or school, lead to car accidents, and cause laziness – as you are perpetually devoid of enough sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in our lives, essentially allowing us to recharge and replenish from the rigors of everyday life. On average we spend one third of our lives sleeping. Sleep allows for a number of other body’s natural processes to function properly, including digestion, sexual health, mindfulness, cardiovascular health, and even our brain function. according to Dr. Rollins, the top sleep apnea doctor Queens has practicing, those of his patients who are sleep deprived have a much higher incidence rate of other illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension.
To better help you categorize and understand sleep apnea, here are three different types of the condition and their effect on the human body and mind.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The most common form of sleep apnea, OSA or obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a patient’s tongue collapses against the soft palate, then the soft palate and the uvula fall against the back of the throat – causing blockages to your airways while you sleep. This occurs often during the night for up to 10 seconds at a time. Patients often wake up gasping or choking.
Central Sleep Apnea
The second most common form of sleep apnea, CSA or central sleep apnea is a signal issue within the brain, failing to tell the muscles they need to breathe, as well as a blocked airway. The chest and diaphragm muscles aren’t properly signaled to pull in air and regulate your breathing. CSA often happens at high altitudes and to those who have heart health issues.
Complex Sleep Apnea
This is a combination of the two previous conditions. This causes the brain to wake you up in the night often with a signal for lack of oxygen, telling you to remember to breath.
In some instances, this condition sounds quite dangerous, but there are a number of treatment methods out there. For more information on all the types of sleep apnea or to seek out treatment, contact Dr. Rollins today.
