A few Myths about Sleep Apnea.

Sleep Apnea is a sleep irregularity where the sleeper suffers from numerous pauses in breathing due to a blocked airway, as the sufferer sleeps. The condition can lead to more serious health conditions if left untreated.

There are three types of Sleep Apnea, Central (CSA), Obstructive (OSA) or mixed Sleep Apnea, a mixture of both Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Regardless of the kind of Sleep Apnea you suffer from it is likely you will be unaware of your condition.

Below is a a collection of commonly believed myths about Sleep Apnea, from the symptoms and diagnosis of the condition to the treatments available.

1.Sleep Apnea is just snoring: Myth Snoring is often seen as a symptom for Sleep Apnea, but there are big differences between the two. As mentioned, people with Sleep Apnea can stop breathing up to 400 times a night. These pauses can last anywhere between 10 to 30 seconds, often accompanied by a snort which is why the condition often gets confused with snoring. These pauses in breathing can disrupt your sleep pattern making you more tired the following day.

2.Sleep Apnea is not dangerous: Myth The various breaks in sleep can severely disrupt your natural sleep pattern, taking a toll on your body and mind. People with Sleep Apnea often wake up breathless, which can be very traumatic and as a result can put pressure and strain on the heart and cardiovascular system. The pauses in breathing can also reduce blood oxygen levels severely. Untreated Sleep Apnea can cause car accidents, work-related injuries and strokes.

3.Losing weight can help: Fact A person who is obese or overweight is more likely to experience with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This is because of airway's surrounding muscle not being well toned resulting in a narrow and restricted airway. By just losing a small percentage your symptoms will notably improve. Smoking can also increase the symptoms of OSA, so ask your doctor for the best products to help you quit.

4. Only older people get Sleep Apnea: Myth Medical statistics show that around 17 million people in the USA suffer from Sleep Apnea. However you are more likely suffer from the condition if you are over the age of 40, people of all ages, races and body types have been diagnosed with the disorder. However if you are overweight and male, you are more likely to acquire OSA. Sleep Apnea is also likely to run in families.

5. CPAP is an effective treatment: Fact CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. A CPAP machine blows a strong enough stream of air through the airways keeping your air passage open whilst you sleep. to lighten the symptoms of Sleep Apnea. CPAP is the most popular form of treatment for adults with OSA. It has also been proved to be a very effective treatment.

Now that a few Myths have been debunked, if you think that you or maybe somebody you know struggle with Sleep Apnea, don't hesitate and seek advice from your family doctor ASAP.