Sleep disorders that include problems in breathing are categorized as sleep-related breathing disorders. While a number of variations of sleep apnea exist, among the most common disorder of this type is obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder occurring when an individual’s breathing is obstructed while sleeping. Those with untreated sleep apnea cease to breathe repeatedly—sometimes hundreds of times—throughout their sleep. This issue can cause the brain and the rest of the body to receive insufficient oxygen. The two types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is the more common type of apnea, a result of the blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat caves in during one’s sleep.
Central sleep apnea is different from OSA as the airway is not blocked, yet the brain fails to signal one’s muscles to breathe due to the unsteadiness in the respiratory control center. Sleep apnea can be a serious and scary diagnosis, but it is a treatable condition. Lifestyle changes such as losing weight and quitting the nicotine habit can reduce sleep apnea symptoms.
Regular exercise can help one lose weight and can have a major effect on the duration and quality of one’s sleep. Sleep tricks such as sleeping on one’s side, propping the head up, and sewing a tennis ball into a pajama’s back pocket can keep one from sleeping on their back.
Dr. Lisa M. Cannon is a New Jersey-based physician. Her specializations include critical care and sleep medicine. For more updates like this, head over to this blog.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon 