Sleep Apnea Treatment

Do you snore? Are you tired? Do you want to get back to sleeping in the marital bed? We may be able to help.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a form of sleep disordered breathing which leads to periods of reduced breathing and even cessation of breathing while sleeping. There are two types of apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Central sleep apnea (CSA).

OSA sufferers experience repeated complete or partial closure of their throat (pharynx or airway) while they sleep. This blocking of the throat stops air being able to reach the lungs and breathing stops. These episodes can last for 10 seconds to over a minute.

OSA causes a disruption to the normal sleep pattern, making the sufferer often feel unrefreshed on waking. The disruption to the normal sleeping cycle can cause fatigue, headaches, difficulty focusing on daily tasks, irritation and may also be linked with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms and diabetes.

CSA occurs due to a lack of respiratory effort during the breathing stoppages. In central sleep apnea no blockages of the airway occur, rather the message from the brain that drives breathing cease for a short time. This form of sleep apnea can occur in those with heart disease, after a stroke or head injury and when taking certain medications (e.g. strong pain relievers). The management of central sleep apnea may differ from obstructive sleep apnea but new advances have occurred resulting in effective therapies.

Signs and Symptoms

There is no universal pattern for symptoms with these varying greatly between sufferers. Symptoms may be reported by the sufferer and/or their partner. Many perceive their symptoms to be a normal part of the aging process, not realising that they have a reversible medical condition.

Symptoms can include: