Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Most sufferers of sleep apnea experience either obstructive sleep apnea, which is a physical blockage of the airway by tissue in the throat, or central sleep apnea, which is the failure of the brain to control even breathing, resulting in cycles of apneas and hyperpneas. When a patient suffers from both central and obstructive sleep apnea and exhibits symptoms of both, the patient is said to suffer from mixed sleep apnea. Mixed sleep apnea is a tricky form of sleep apnea that is quite difficult to amend with established forms of treatment.
Mixed sleep disease is usually diagnosed when the patient not only has physical blockage of the airway, but also experiences reduced or erratic brain activity in the area that controls breathing. This can cause treatments that are used to reduce one of the normal types of sleep apnea to be ineffective. Treating the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, for instance, may still result in the brain being unable to control breathing properly. The patient, while treated for obstructive sleep disease, is still suffering from central sleep apnea.
Another symptom that regularly shows up in those suffering from mixed sleep disorder is chronic heart failure. Patients who show symptoms of chronic heart failure may experience persistent coughing, a weaker heart rate, and tiredness and shortness of breath, adding to the symptoms of the sleep disorder. While heart failure is also a symptom of severe obstructive sleep disorder as well, it is a symptom that shows up in most cases of mixed sleep disorder.
Mixed sleep disorder can also be induced indirectly by use of opiates. Narcotics such as opiates are often responsible for reduced respiratory activity, therefore leading to cases of central sleep disorder. Those who use opiates are at a higher risk of suffering from mixed sleep disorder, especially if they already exhibit symptoms of obstructive sleep disorder. Once the brain’s activity lessens and the central sleep disorder begins to affect the patient, the obstructive sleep disorder may worsen and the patient may exhibit even stronger symptoms.
When a patient suffers from one form of sleep issue, the symptoms are usually amplified when the other form becomes present. Increased lethargy, deteriorating heart condition, and restless sleep all become much more pronounced. The patient’s airway is not only obstructed by tissue, but the brain fails to attempt to breathe when the obstruction occurs. When this occurs, increased stress is put on the patient, especially in the heart and brain. The added stress on the heart can cause increased heart failure, which can lead to worsening central sleep issue symptoms. The brain’s sleep cycle is also interrupted when the patient is awakened when the issue is not resolved. Because the brain cannot complete a normal sleep cycle, symptoms of sleep deprivation may begin to appear. Concentration may become harder and learning may become more difficult.
Those who suffer from mixed sleep issue suffer from the symptoms of both central and obstructive sleep issue. This can lead to many health problems when left untreated. Luckily, effective treatment of one form often lessens the symptoms of the other. Once the body is brought back into balance, the patient’s health will often begin to improve, and the symptoms of the apnea become less severe as the patient’s body heals from the damage caused by the mixed sleep issue.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms Related Articles:
My symptoms are sleepiness during the day. Some days I am so sleepy that I am irritable and just not fun to be around. I am usually tired like I had no sleep the night before or as if I had been doing a lot of work, which is usually not the case. I cannot remember a night when I got less that 8 hours of sleep. I usually get 8 to 10 hours every night. Mostly 9 or 10. However, when I get up, I am dizzy and tired and I definitely do not feel well rested. I think twice before getting out of bed because I still feel tired. When I do get up I do not usually feel sleepy then, only tired. It is during the course of the day that i become sleepy. Sometimes very sleepy that I have to get up and do something or I will fall asleep. I am always tired.
Answer:
Your symptoms sound like sleep apnea, but that isn’t all the questions you need to answer. answer these, and if you answer yes to the majority of these you could have sleep apnea.
1. Do you fall asleep while reading a book?
2.Do you fall asleep while sitting in traffic?
3.Do you nod off while watching television?
4.Do you nod off while sitting and relaxing?
5.Do you nod off during normal conversation?
You already said you feel tired during the day. If any of these sound familiar then ask your doctor to have a sleep study done. Its real easy all you do is sleep, of coarse you will have some wires on you to monitor you eyes,brain waves, heart and lungs.
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea you will have to wear a machine called a cpap while you sleep. cpap stands for constant positive airway pressure. most sleep apnea is due to some type of obstruction, like the tongue. The tongue tends to block the airway,the cpap will help with that. It will take some getting used to but if you do wind up with one wear it as much as you can every night, you will get used to it and it will help.
Mail this post
Leave a Reply