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Sleep Apnea Head Position Information

By Joshua Reynolds


Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the patient has their breathing interrupted while they are sleeping. If the condition is not treated, the patient usually experiences repeated breath interruptions in a night. Sometimes, it has been found that the patient may stop breathing hundreds of times in a single night. As a result of this, the body, especially the brain fails to get enough oxygen to carry out its normal functions. Here are facts about sleep apnea head position.

Research has found two main types of this condition to exist. The two types are obstructive sleep apnea, abbreviated as (OSA) and central sleep apnea. OSA is the most common of these two types. This condition is caused when the airway in the patient is blocked. This occurs when soft tissues in the back side of a throat collapse when one is sleeping.

The second type, central sleep apnea is as a result of a problem in the brain, specifically the respiratory control center. In this case, the brain does not send the necessary signals which cause the muscles responsible for breathing to contract and relax. The problem arises due to instability in the section of the brain responsible for monitoring breathing. Numerous factors can be behind this problem.

First, a person must be having certain predisposing risk factors which make them vulnerable to the problem. But this disorder can affect any person no matter their sex or age. For example, at the moment there are lots of kids suffering from this condition is the United States. GERD, being overweight, having a big neck, being over 40 years, nasal obstruction, family history, and being male among others are some of the risk factors.

Research indicates that more men suffer from this condition as compared to women. Having too much weight, is also a very important risk factor. Correcting weight may help ease or eliminate the problem. In men, people with a neck size of 17 inches or more are at a higher risk of contracting this condition. On the contrary, people with a neck size of 16 inches or more are also at a higher risk.

Sleep apnea causes a lot of discomfort and in more than one case is known to be accompanied by more critical conditions. Some of these eventually lead to heart failure, headaches, depression, worsening ADHD, and diabetes just to name a few. Leaving the condition untreated for long makes children and adolescents to exhibit poor academic achievement. Adults at home or at work also exhibit diminished performance in their daily routines.

Several treatment options are available for this condition. For those who are experiencing moderate or severe forms of the condition, wearing a CPAP equipment may be recommendable. This equipment is worn when one is sleeping and helps to deliver air to the lungs at a slightly higher pressure than air in the atmosphere. The high pressure assists in keeping airways open, preventing snoring and apnea.

There are many other approaches for dealing with this condition. For instance, sleeping position and head positioning while one sleeps may help to keep the throat and airways open. Surgery is also a treatment option for those with severe forms of the disorder. Surgery may aim at removing tissue, repositioning jaws, or creating new airways.




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