Archive for 'Snoring'
Video: Snoring Center - Sleep Apnea
In this short video clip, Dr. Craig Schwimmer defines obstructive sleep apnea , tells us the health consequences of having sleep apnea, and tells us who is at risk.
Schwimmer describes the event cycle of a person who is sleeping that has obstructive sleep apenea: Soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses the airway, and prevens the sleeper from breathing. The brain notices that there is less oxygen in the blood stream, and the person wakes up. This can happen several hundred times a night.
In the long term, these nightly cycles cause significant strain on heart an lungs. People with sleep apnea are at greater risk for having high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, and several other cardio vascular diseases.
Studies have shown that up to 5% of the population may have sleep apnea. Signs of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Loud, habitual snoring
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Poor quality sleep - usually wake up not feelign well rested
- Trouble concentrating during the day
- Having headaches in the morning
People who are most at risk for having sleep apnea are:
- Men
- between 40 and 60 years old
- and are overweight
Traditionally, sleep studies have been done in facilities to determine if someone has sleep apnea. Now, sleep studies may be done at one’s home.
You can find out more information from The Snoring Center.
Video: Sleep Apnea PSA
This short video clip is a public service announcement from American Sleep Apnea Association.
From the video:
Tags: [Sleep Apnea, Snoring Video][person snoring in background] Oh No… another sleepless night
The snoring. Then the silence.
When will he take another breath?
[snort] If you know this sound you may know a person with…. sleep apnea.
It can be life-threatening.
Get that person to a doctor, or a sleep specialist for treatmentSleep Apnea
It is no way to sleep.
It is no way to live.American Sleep Apnea Association
888-293-3650
www.sleepapnea.org
Video: Snoring Center - Sleepy Drivers
Tags: [Snoring, Uncategorized Video]
Video: Snoring Center - Snoring advice
Tags: [Snoring, Uncategorized Video]
Video: Snoring Center - Better Sleep for Better Health
Tags: [Snoring, Uncategorized Video]
Vocal Exercises for Snoring
National Public Radio has an article on vocal exercises that can help with snoring. I do not know how effective these excercises are, but what bad could come out of singing?
Tags: [Sleep Apnea, Snoring, Treatment vocal exercises]Sleep Apnea -OVERCOME THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF SLEEP APNEA
Sleep apnea is surprisingly quite a common problem in people who suffer from interrupted periods of sleep. So what exactly is sleep apnea and do you know if it is the cause of your lack of sleep?
Sleep apnea is a cessation of breathing during sleep. This can be for a few seconds or up to about a minute each time and can occur several hundred times per night. Snoring and sleep apnea often occur together and is generally caused by an obstruction of breathing resulting in wakening up, although many sufferers may be unaware that they have the problem If you or your partner are a sufferer, the other person may notice heavy snoring or an interruption of the breathing pattern in their partner although the sufferer may not themselves be aware of it.
The most common form of this problem is what is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) where a physical condition is blocking the airways. This can be caused by enlarged tonsils, relaxed throat muscles, or the tongue preventing the air from reaching the lungs and making it more difficult to breathe, to something as simple as a bad sleeping position, on the back, for example. Overweight can also be a factor, fatty tissue in the throat can create an air blockage.
The effects of sleep apnea may cause the sleeper to awaken and disrupt the pattern of sleep. In many cases though, the individual is not aware of their sleep being interrupted, but the disruption to the pattern of sleep causes tiredness, irritability and lack of concentration during the day.
The pattern of sleep is, deep sleep, when the individual replenishes and revitalizes energies. This is a relaxed quiet period of sleep. REM sleep is the dreaming sequence which occurs several times a night. In this state the subconscious mind is active and the brainwave pattern too is much more active.
A restful sleep promotes the production of serotonin, which is the hormone which promotes the ‘feel good’ factor. Serotonin is converted into melatonin by the pineal gland in the brain which only becomes active at night. The regulating process by the body of the amounts of melatonin creates the sleeping and waking cycle. . Disturbed sleep interrupts this and without the undisturbed cycle of healthy sleep the body is deprived of the ability to repair, replace and rejuvenate its’ energies and other needs. Lack of sleep impairs the quality of life leaving you drained of energy and feeling worn-out.
Discover how one ‘incurable snorer’ himself a sufferer of sleep apnea for many years, developed his own program (which even amazed doctors) to overcome his sleep problems and disturbed nights. With his simple routine, even if you are the worst snorer who ever kept the neighborhood awake all night, you can change all that for ever.
Researching these innovative techniques and taking the time to investigate what works for you could mean a long and peaceful sleep for everyone involved. There are ways to stop sleep problems and once you use the solutions designed for you, your family will be eternally grateful. You don’t need any kind of pills, creams, sprays, dental gadgets or even surgery to make this work. This very easy to follow method is aimed specifically at YOUR causes for disturbed sleep. Click on the link and you can prove it for yourself for free right now
———-
About the Author:
sleep apnea
Copy article in full only.Include all links and website details.
Submitted at: Content-Articles.com - The Premier Web Site Content Article Directory
This article may be reprinted in accordance with the Content-Articles.com Reprint Requirements
Tags: []Snoring - Looking for a Cure or Treatment Remedy?
By: Michele Miller
It’s a nuisance, that’s for sure. You’re sleeping partner cannot sleep properly if you’re snoring, and you can’t either. When you snore you don’t get a good night’s rest yourself.
Snoring happens when your soft palate and uvula partially block your airway while you’re sleeping.
Sometimes, snoring is caused by sleep apnea, and this is when your airway is completely blocked by the soft palate and uvula, or even your tongue. When people have sleep apnea, they often awaken to take a breath. This interrupts sleep and often makes you tired in the daytime hours. If you think you have sleep apnea, this should be evaluated by a physician.
Sometimes, a common cold, allergies, or enlarged adenoids can cause snoring. It can also be caused by drinking alcohol, or taking certain medications.
But for some people, there seems to be no real reason why snoring occurs. It’s a common problem, one which many people suffer from.
There are many non-surgical remedies, and you might have tried some of these, such as a special pillow to make you sleep on your side, which usually closes the mouth and can prevent mild snoring.
There is also a device called a “snore ball”, which is placed in a pouch on the back of your pajamas. When you go to sleep on your back the ball feels uncomfortable and makes you change position. This can also cause you to wake up too, so it doesn’t always solve your snoring problem.
You can even get a snoring monitor that beeps when you lay on your back. This can be very irritating to those sleeping in the same room however, and the downside is that this too disturbs your sleep, reminding you to change position.
Nasal strips have become popular because they are available without a prescription, and they open the nasal passages. This does provide some relief for people that snore, but it’s not a permanent cure. However, for some people this has solved the snoring problem.
If you’ve tried any of these remedies without much relief,you’ve probably even looked into oral appliances and tongue retraining appliances. However, these are not the most comfortable things to wear.
Excess weight can contribute to snoring because excess skin in the neck area provides more tissue for the air to vibrate against. Losing weight can solve the snoring problem for some people, and can also improve general health, and give you a better night’s sleep. If you feel you are overweight, it would be prudent to try and lose a few pounds and see if this makes a difference in your snoring habits.
If you’ve tried avoiding alcohol, dairy products, fried foods, chocolate etc., and your weight is under control, you’re probably quite frustrated by now that you are still snoring!
Surgical options are available, but these can be invasive and expensive, and they don’t always work as well as people hope they will.
Some of the side effects of surgery are irritation to the tissues and possible scarring, post-operative infections, possible speech defects, swallowing problems, dry mouth, and a whole host of other possible complications. It’s no wonder most people do not want to seek a surgical solution.
If you’ve been evaluated by a physician for snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea has been ruled out, and you’ve tried all the remedies known to man, it may be time to consider other options. It is possible to get a good night’s sleep without snoring, but it may take some research to find what works for you.
———-
Article Source: http://www.article-emporium.ca
Tags: []Heavy Snorers May Be At Risk for Sleep Apnea
By: Minh Nguyen
Sleep apnea literally means, “stop breathing during sleep,” and that is exactly what happens to thousands of people who are affected by the disorder. Millions more are undiagnosed because their symptoms are simply explained away as tiredness or other factors. If someone has sleep apnea, a neurological problem causes soft tissues to repeatedly block the airway during sleep, causing the sufferer to literally gasp for air.
Symptoms and features of sleep apnea include: (1)Excessive sleepiness during the day, lack of concentration, forgetfulness; (2) High blood pressure; (3) Obesity; (4) Loud snoring, snorting or gasping; (5)Irritability; (6) Depression;(7) Excessive sweating at night; (8) Insomnia or restless sleep; and (9) Confusion upon wakening and morning headaches
Usually a partner recognizes symptoms before the patient, because the person sharing a room is all too aware of the loud snoring, a sudden snort or gasp for air, and constant restlessness. Someone with sleep apnea can actually stop breathing for about 10 seconds at a time, up to 400 times in one night!
Sleep apnea can be attributed to physical features, such as a receding chin or large neck, and external factors, such as use of sleeping pills, obesity, nighttime alcoholic beverages, heartburn and high altitudes.
The facts of sleep apnea are: (1)An estimated 18-25 million people have sleep apnea; (2) Less than one million people realize it; (3) Probably 30-40 million people have some kind of sleep disorder and most are unaware of it; (4) Sleep disorders add 15.9 billion to the total health care bill in the United States; (5) Severe sleep apnea sufferers stop breathing more than 50 times per hour; (6) 10% of men of working age, 2% of women and 3% of children have sleep apnea; (7) Obese children are four times as likely to suffer from sleep apnea than children of average weight; (8) African-American children are 3½ times more at risk than children of other races; (9) 56,000 automobile crashes stem annually from driver fatigue; and (10) Drivers with sleep disorders often react slower than drivers slightly above the legal alcohol limit.
You are more at risk if you are: (1) African American; (2) Living in a rural area; (3) Between 40 and 65 years old; (4) A smoker; (5) Drink alcohol at night; and (6) Diabetic.
Consequences:
There are serious consequences to ignoring this potentially life-threatening disorder. If untreated, your risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke is higher. The risk of accidents is also increased because if you drive or operate machinery, you may not be as focused as you could be after a restful sleep.
How to diagnose sleep apnea:
Most physicians are not trained extensively in sleep disorders and do not usually focus on them. You should be aware of the symptoms, and if you believe you or someone you love may have this problem, contact our office or your physician. A sleep test is usually performed to monitor the extent of the problem. Additionally, a special questionnaire may help determine whether the symptoms indicate sleep apnea.
Relief for the chronic snorer:
If you are not diagnosed with sleep apnea, as a habitual snorer you may be able to receive help with an anti-snoring dental device. There are many different devices available to you. This pliable plastic appliance should be carefully fitted by us to ensure it will stay in place while you sleep.
———-
Article Source: http://www.article-emporium.ca
Tags: []