Have you ever experienced waking up in the middle of the night and feeling exhausted despite the fact that sleeping must have the opposite effect? You must be suffering from sleep apnea, a common disorder characterized by repetitive breathing pauses. Some cases just involve shallow breathing, which can be just as dangerous.
Sleep apnea occurs when the throat and tongue muscles become too relaxed that they collapse and block the airway. This abnormal relaxation have an array of known causes, including enlarged tonsils or adenoids and dental conditions such as large overbite. Adult obesity is also linked to the development of sleep apnea, although childhood obesity have less impact.
How Sleep Apnea Affects the Body
The body needs oxygen to grow and function properly. Oxygen is responsible for 90 percent of the body’s energy. Because breathing is interrupted during episodes of sleep apnea, the body does not receive enough oxygen. The result can be devastating, even leading to a condition called hypoxemia, a below-normal level of oxygen in the blood.
Sleep apnea poses the risk of increase in blood pressure levels. This is triggered by the effects of the stress caused by waking up during the night on the hormone systems. Sleep apnea sufferers are also at risk of heart disease, particularly stroke and atrial fibrillation. This happens when the inadequacy of oxygen in the blood affects the brain’s ability to control blood flow in the arteries.
Visit a Sleep Center
Unfortunately, sleep apnea is not something that will go away eventually. In fact, its effect on the body may develop over time. The condition requires proper treatment to prevent further damage on the system. The best place to have your sleep apnea treated in Brandon is in a sleep center. Here, the medical professionals that provide treatments specialize in sleep apnea, its risks, and its solutions.
Sleep apnea can be cured through lifestyle changes, such as losing weight. Professional help in a Brandon sleep center, on the other hand, may involve the introduction of dental appliances that can help reposition the lower jaw and tongue to prevent them from closing off the airway during deep sleep. If appliances fail, surgery to remove tissue in the airway may be advised.
Sources:
HOW IS SLEEP APNEA TREATED?, sleepfoundation.org
7 Ways Sleep Apnea Can Hurt Your Health, WebMD.com
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