Apnea is the medical term for breath holding. This can be done voluntarily or induced by diving into water. It can also be drug induced or it can occur during sleep in some people, apnea induced this way can be dangerous.
Why is Apnea Dangerous
The body cannot store much oxygen, yet the body has a constant need for it. This demand is such that after only a couple of minutes of oxygen deprivation, cells begin to die and permanent brain damage begins to occur in a few more minutes. This deprivation of oxygen is known as hypoxia.
The available oxygen continues to be delivered to tissues even when one is holding their breath. The problem is that carbon dioxide is not being removed from the body and metabolism continues. Eventually excess carbon dioxide levels build up which is toxic to cells. High carbon dioxide levels also form acids, causing the body to become more acidic (acidosis).
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea occurs when one stops breathing while they are sleeping. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for periods at a time, up to hundreds of times during the day. There are 3 main types of Sleep Apnea:
Obstructive Apnea – Normally as people sleep, muscle drecreases, but not to the point where airways collapse. Enough muscle tone is maintained so that airways are open and air can move in and out freely. Obstructive Apnea occurs when the trachea (windpipe) is obstructed while sleeping. Muscles relax when we are sleeping, and in some people, particularly obese people, the windpipe can collapse, stopping breathing. This mainly occurs during the REM stage of sleep and is the most common form of apnea.
Central Apnea – In central apnea, it is the brain that fails to send a signal for the muscles to breathe. No physical obstruction occurs. The problem is thought to originate from the thalamus of the brain. Risk factors for central sleep apnea include encephalitis, strokes affecting the brainstem, or neurodegenerative disease, or a cervical spine injury.
Mixed Apnea – A combination of both obstructive and central apnea.
Apnea Treatment
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) can be used. This is a device with a mask worn over the nose and / or mouth. The device provides slightly pressurized air, and helps people suffering from sleep apnea to breath easily.
Most treatments for sleep apnea are based on lifestyle changes. For example, obesity increases the risk of developing sleep apnea. So making dietary and physical activity changes would help. Doctors also recommend that sedatives or other muscle relaxants should not be taken when going to bed. Sedatives would make it easier for the muscles that make up the airways to collapse.
Some people use special kinds of pillows or other devices that stop them from sleeping on their backs.
Sleep apnea is a disorder which can be treated through lifestyle changes. Breath holding for long periods of time is dangerous, and can cause cells to die and permanent brain damage can occur. Using treatments to manage sleep apnea can also reduce the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.
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Comments
A few clarifications to your excellent review…
Although CPAP is the first line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, you didn’t mention two other alternative options: dental devices and surgery.
Dentists can make oral appliances that are specifically designed for snoring and sleep apnea. But not all dentists are capable or experiences in treating obstructive sleep apnea, so you have to do your research. Surgery is always the last line option, but it can be useful for a select few who can’t tolerate the other options. You should find a surgeon that understands the entire upper airway anatomy, from the tip of the nose to the voice box. If you’re offered palatal surgery only, then there’s a good chance that you won’t have good results.
Your apnea treatment section describes the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea as mainly a lifestyle issue and weight loss.
It’s bee shown that you don’t have to be an older, heavy-set, snoring man to have obstructive sleep apnea. Even young, thin women who don’t snore can have significant obstructive sleep apnea.
People who try the various “over the counter or over the internet” options may feel better temporarily, but are only delaying treating their underlying obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to medical complications later in life (such as depression, anxiety, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, heart attack and stroke).
Comment by Steven Park — October 13, 2008