Even if you sleep fine at night, the effects of sleep deprivation and other sleep disorders may be more personal than you think. You might not feel tired, but the people protecting your community often do.
WHAT IS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)?
OSA is one of the most common causes of snoring, occurring when the muscles in the upper throat relax during sleep and block the flow of air into the lungs causing a person’s breathing to stop for a significant period of time, sometimes as long as 10 or more seconds.
The loud snoring sound that is so common in people who have OSA is caused when the air tries to pass through the blocked airway. People with obstructive sleep apnea repeatedly have their loud snoring interrupted with periods of silence during which there is no breathing. The period of silence is then followed by a snort and a gasp for air.
Sleep is important for a person to maintain good health. And as essential as sleep is for a person’s well being millions of people do not get sufficient sleep. Further, most people do not get their sleep related issues diagnosed or treated.
How Much Sleep Do I Need?
The average healthy adult needs 8 hours of sleep per day. However, some people require as little as six hours of sleep per day and others require as many as ten hours of sleep per day to function at peak level.
What Is Sleep Apnea? You may be thinking “Why am I feeling so tired today having slept through the night?” You might not realize that your sleep was interrupted several times an hour when you needed to gasp for air. You can’t remember waking up with a snorting or choking sound and immediately afterwards falling back to sleep.
Feeling Sleep Deprived Has Immediate and Long Term Effects
Sleep deprivation is something that most people have felt at least once before. However common, if you are feeling sleep deprived, especially on a consistent basis, this is something that should not be taken lightly.
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association claims that aside from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, sleep apnea may be one of the causes of dementia.
This link of sleep apnea and dementia can be explained through hypoxemia, which is a drop of oxygen levels in the blood, often caused by the obstruction of breathing that is the main symptom of sleep apnea.
Know this the next time you are awakened by your partner’s loud snoring: He or she could be suffering from a slew of serious physiological problems.
Loud snoring and sleep apnea (a condition where sufferers wake up several times an hour because they stop breathing) are among a group of sleep related breathing disorders (SRBDs) that increase the risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, daytime sleepiness and, according to new research, depression.
Most people are reactive to their snoring problems and will usually wait until their snoring condition starts affecting a relationship with a significant other or a roommate. Once they decide to take action, they look to find a quick stop snoring device or product. If you snore, it is best to be proactive and learn how to stop snoring naturally.
Have you ever been embarrassed by your snoring? Ever wake up in the morning to complaints about how loud and annoying you are to sleep with? Then watch what you eat. Following a healthy diet (as a lifestyle choice and most definitely before bed) can vastly improve the quality of life for both you and your partner.
