A person who has sleep apnea suffers from irregular breathing while sleeping. But what causes sleep apnea?
Types
There are three types of sleep apnea: central, obstructive, and complex.
Central sleep apnea causes the brain and nervous system to malfunction, and the signals that tell our lungs to breathe become inconsistent. This ultimately leads to stopping of breathing of the person.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. As the name suggests, it is caused by an obstruction or blockage in the respiratory system.
Complex sleep apnea occurs when a person has both central and obstructive sleep apnea.
Effects
This disease has a severe impact on the quality of life of a person and can even result in death. There are plenty of ways it affects the human body and mind including depression, memory loss, asthma, acid reflux, weak immune system, high blood pressure, decreased sexual desire, abnormal cholesterol, low blood sugar, diabetes, and fatigue.
Treatment
However, it is easy to identify and there are effective treatment methods available for it. The person suffering from the disease might not be able to tell what is going on, but another person can identify the symptoms.
Symptoms
If a person is snoring loudly, gasping for air in the middle of the night, or stops breathing altogether, then they most likely have sleep apnea.
Causes
Sleep apnea is caused by dysfunctional muscles, nasal congestion, neurological problems, and in some cases it is purely genetic. Other factors like being of a higher weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, pregnancy, and allergies can contribute to sleep apnea.
Precaution
Despite all the challenges, it has various treatments. In most cases, simple lifestyle changes like reducing weight, quitting cigarettes and alcohol, eating a healthy diet, and sleeping on your side are more than enough to curb the disease.
But in severe cases, there might be a need for surgery, medication, and devices that aid in breathing.
If you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea, then you should consult a doctor as soon as possible since it can lead to other complications like heart attack, stroke, and even death.
Ms Kalinga