by Susan Fenn

Created on: October 31, 2009   Last Updated: November 26, 2009

Sleep apnea affects 80 million North Americans with 30% of those under the age of 40. The National Council of Sleep Disorders attributes 38,000 cardiovascular deaths per year to sleep apnea.Snoring may be annoying to the person sleeping beside of or down the hall from the sufferer of sleep apnea, but it can be detrimental to the individual afflicted with it.

Side effects of sleep apnea range from fatigue to serious health conditions such as high blood pressure. When suffering with sleep apnea, the body is fighting to breathe. The stress alone is enough to cause hypertension. The hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack, and heart failure and places the patient at risk for sudden death.

Patients who suffer from sleep apnea don't feel refreshed after a full night of sleep. Many times they wake up from a sound slumber struggling for air or their bodies jerking or jumping from the tension of not being able to breathe. They may also struggle with headaches when they first wake up and some studies have indicated that sleep apnea may cause chronic headaches and fatigue.

The most common techniques that can be used to alleviate sleep apnea include an in-home continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, Thornton adjustable positioner (TAP), weight loss, and surgery.

The CPAP forces a continuous airflow through the airway of the throat through the use of a mask. It provides pressured air throughout the night that allows the patient a higher quality of sleep without surgery.

The TAP is custom-made and is meant to be worn during sleep. It positions the lower jaw forward, which prevents the tongue and soft tissues in your throat from collapsing into the airway. Adjustments are easily made by the patient's spouse or significant other. The adjustment handle acts as a snoring volume control. As snoring is "turned down" or reduced, the airway is opened.

Exercise and weight loss rids the body of excess fat around the neck, which could cause extra pressure on the airway during the night. Experiencing severe sleep apnea may leave the sufferer too fatigued to start an exercise routine until they have tried one of the other methods and regained some of their stamina. What the patient can do is focus on eating healthier and not consuming heavy meals three to four hours prior to bedtime.

The last option is surgery and should be considered only after the patient has talked with their doctor in depth about the risks and the chances for improvement over sleep apnea. Some surgeries include tonsil removal, uvula reduction, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which removes excess tissue in the throat and mouth to open the airway.

To lessen the severity of snoring or sleep apnea patients can avoid alcohol or sedative consumption, they may quit smoking, avoid caffeine, treat any allergies that affect breathing, and choose a pillow that supports the neck and doesn't place their head at an awkward angle.

For more information regarding sleep apnea and minimally intrusive procedures and exercises you may visit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepdisorders.ht ml

http://www.smile-on.com/articles/article_view.php?ar ticle_id=521

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