About a month ago, my dad told me that he was
diagnosed with a sleeping disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea and I was
surprised to learn that this condition causes him to stop breathing during his
regular sleep. This was very confusing to me since I could not imagine how this
happens. Sleep disorders include a range of problems, from
narcolepsy to insomnia. I did a little “Googling” in order to help me get a
better sense of it all. Obstructive sleep apnea is basically a disorder in
which a person experiences abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep; some will
stop breathing for a few seconds to a full minute. In my attempt for a better understanding of that, I imagined it was something like extreme snoring. Little did I know sleep apnea is much worse,
since after doing this repeatedly during one night it can deprive a person's brain from
some much needed oxygen due to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood. This
build up requires the heart to pump harder to try to remove the excess carbon
dioxide from the blood. This adds a
great deal of stress on the heart, especially if it occurs repeatedly. I have
added a video here with an illustrative overview.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that
can have some devastating effects on the body if it goes untreated. The effects
of this condition vary depending on the severity of it. In the beginning
the side effects may only be that the person feels tired and drowsy during the
day. They may feel as if they are never able to get a good night of sleep no
matter how long they are in bed. I am glad to know that there are many treatments, from lifestyle
changes like losing weight to surgery, but the most common is the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which is a machine that delivers air pressure
through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. Many people don’t like
having to sleep with something on their head but it has proven immediate
results and a relief in symptoms. People who do not see a change in their
symptoms are people who do not follow through with the treatment. With regards
to my dad, he complains of sounding like Darth Vader, but I think that’s sort
of cool.
San Juanita,
ReplyDeleteThis was a very informative post about obstructive sleep apnea. The CPAP machine doesn't look like its the most comfortable apparatus but in the end it can ultimately save someones life. I have two family members that use the device and who also complain but I'm glad that they along with your dad are following through with the treatment to help them breathe more efficiently while they sleep. Great Post
San Juanita,
ReplyDeleteThank you for an informative post. Sleep apnea is a serious condition because it deals with a lack of oxygen that the body intakes when asleep. This typeof condition can lead to heart disease and heart problems, like you said, because of the stress that it may go through because of the sudden lack of oxygen to the tissues and vital organs of the body. Glad to hear your dad is retrieving treatment although it may be uncomfortable it is a helpful method to be able to combat this condition.
San Juanita,
ReplyDeleteMy father was diagnosed with sleep apnea too. He snores alot and its sometimes pretty scary to hear him stop and suddenly jolt up out of bed. I would be terrified of going to bed every night if I had this disorder. The mask seems like a great option; maybe I'll talk to him about it. Great post!