Health Implications of Sleep Apnea - Research Paper Example

Health Implications of Sleep Apnea Is it alarming for a presence of any serious health problems if there are night intervals that a person experiences temporary cessation or pauses of breath and oftentimes accompanied by heavy snoring that wakes him up in the middle of his sleep? This health condition is called sleep apnea. According to the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), breathing pauses in sleep apnea disorder can last from few seconds to minutes and often occur 5 to 30 times (or more) in an hour and happens 3 or more disrupted sleep nights each week (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2009). Though commonly undiagnosed since the person having sleep apnea may be unaware of it, this symptom may posts some health alterations in the person’s respiratory, cardiac, or other systemic problems. The objective of this study is to identify the health problems underlying sleep apnea as to what particular health alterations in the system is significantly implied by this symptom and how this disorder is being managed and treated. It has always been a rule that prior to identifying solutions, rigid assessment is necessary, so applies with treating sleep apnea that requires proper diagnosis. Though sleep apnea is, by itself, considered as a sleeping disorder, it is hypothesize that this particular manifestation is indicative of or causative to a possible systemic problem(s) and posts an alarm for the person to undergo health diagnosis and proper treatment. Continuous sleep is needed by our body to restore the lost energy during the day. Interrupted sleep in sleep apnea results to cognitive problems such as “daytime sleepiness, memory problems, concentration difficulties, emotional instability, irritability, slowed reaction time, and most importantly, an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents” (Fromherz, 2009). In the U.S.A., 1 out of 15 (6.62%) or approximately 18 million Americans have sleep apnea (CureSearch.com, 2008). There are two kinds of sleep apnea. First is the Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which is more common (9 out of 10) and happens when there is blockage (usually the tongue) in the airway passage of the trachea or windpipe. A video clip in YouTube shows how the tongue constricts airflow causing the person to choke in OSA case (Quietsleep4u, 2007). The second one is the Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) which is the rare type and has to do with the central nervous system’s abnormal functioning (FamilyDorctor.org, 2007). Implications of obstructive sleep apnea signifies the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease but can be readily diagnosed and usually treatable (Shamsuzzaman, Gersh, and Somers, 2003). Obesity is also another major contributor to sleep apnea but studies have found out that this condition leads to more serious health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and diabetes (Bowman, 2009). Relative to central sleep apnea type, Bowman added that patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and other neurodegenerative illnesses manifest sleep apnea as a symptom. Other complications (not mentioned above) of sleep apnea if left untreated are weight gain, impotency, memory problems and headache (MetroHealth.org, 2009). Sleep apnea in children, according to research, can lead to brain cell damage, lower IQ and decreased brain activity resulting from injury in the portion of the brain responsible for learning, memory and complex thoughts (Boyles, 2006). Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a sleep study test using polysomnogram (PSG). PSG is a sleep recording device that records brain activity, muscle activity, eye movement, breathing and heart rate, the percentage of oxygen in person’s blood, and the volume of air moving in and out of the person’s lungs while sleeping (MetroHealth.org, 2009). Treating sleep apnea may also help its concomitant disease and may reduce the risk of other complications. Though currently there are no medicines to treat sleep apnea, the NLHBI list down the types of treatment modalities for this sleeping disorder including lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and/or surgery (NHLBI, 2009). Changes in daily activities involves avoiding alcohol and medicines that cause sleepiness, lose weight if obese/overweight, sleeping on the side instead of back, applying nose sprays or allergy medicines at night to keep nasal passages open, and stop smoking. For treatment of loud snoring, a custom-fit mouthpiece is used to adjust lower jaw and tongue to maintain an open airway when at sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the most common treatment method for moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults, uses a mask that fits over the mouth and/or nose where air is gently blown into the throat. A video clip in YouTube details the effectiveness of CPAP to Anne Leda, a patient with sleep apnea and heart disease (NewsCanada, 2007). Side effects of CPAP include dry or stuffy nose, facial skin irritation, sore eyes and headache. The invasive procedure of treatment is surgery by widening the breathing passage, removing, shrinking, or stiffening excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw (NHLBI, 2009). Treating sleep apnea can resolve many chronic conditions associated with this disorder and improve the person’s health condition particularly “daytime sleepiness, concentration and memory, heart disease/failure, heartburn and reflux, diabetes control, erectile dysfunction, depression, and reduce the risk of car accidents” (Peters, 2009). Peters added that studies proved CPAP to be as effective as taking one medication to treat high blood pressure and noted that if sleep apnea is left untreated, there could be a greater risk of sudden death. To sum up, sleep apnea is a health problem that may occur in adults and children which needs immediate attention and management in order to reduce the risk of a more serious health condition. Usually in concomitant with cardiovascular disease and diabetes among overweight individuals, this sleeping disorder is treatable commonly by using CPAP. Treating sleep apnea increases the chance of survival and improves the person’s cognitive functioning and lifestyle. References Bowman, L. (2009). Study Expands on Loud Snoring’s Nightmarish Implications. Copyright by Sleep Apnea Disorder Information Digest. Internet copy retrieved on November 8, 2009 from Boyles, S. (2006). Sleep Apnea in Kids Cuts Brain Power. An Internet article in WebMd, LLC retrieved on November 10, 2009 from CureSearch.com (2008). Statistics About Sleep Apnea. Internet article retrieved on November 9, 2009 from FamilyDoctor.org (2007). Sleep Apnea. Copyright by American Academy of Family Physicians. Internet article retrieved on November 9, 2009 from Fromherz, S. (2009). What is Sleep Apnea? An Internet article in Health Status Internet Assessment retrieved on November 8, 2009 from Metrohealth.org (2009). Copyright by The Metro Health System. Internet article retrieved on November 9, 2009 from NewsCanada (2007). Sleep Apnea [video]. A video clip in YouTube retrieved on November 10, 2009 from Quietsleep4u (2007). What is sleep apnea [video]. A video clip in YouTube retrieved on November 8, 2009 from Peters, B. (2009). Treatment of Sleep Apnea. An Internet article in About.com retrieved on November 9, 2009 from Read More