Symptoms, Causes and Treatments:Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, Snoring, OSA, Sleepless, Narcolepsy

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

2008-03-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Treatments of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is treatable. Following are some treatments of Sleep Apnea that can relieve stress and tension. Further it can you and your spouse to get better sleep quality. Get professional advice from your doctor for the best treatment on you.

Treatments of Sleep Apnea depends on the type of Sleep Apnea .
For having Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most basic instruction is to sleep on the side not on your back.
For Sleep Apnea with overweight, the first step is to reduce weight. Sleep on the side not on your back.
For Sleep Apnea with Alcohol and Smoking habit, the first step is to reduce and gradually stop drinking and smoking.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure)
If you find your snoring at a much serious stage, you can use machinery to use a mask blowing air through your nose and preventing disruption of breathing and help reduce snoring. The constant flow of air pressure from the mask can prevent the collapse of your airway when you breathe. It is the most common used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients. The CPAP machine set pressure accordingly to the user needs to prevent the collapse of your airway.

Mouthpiece Devices
If you have a mild Sleep Apnea , your can use the mouthpiece devices to keep your tongue in place and so keeping your airway open. This kind of dental device is custom-made fitted by your own dentist and placed in your mouth at night to hold the lower jaw and tongue forward. It will pull your lower jaw or tongue forward and create enough space in your throat to prevent breathing obstruction. Or it can be correct though surgery or by using patented devices that help keep the jaws in their proper positions.

Mandibular advancement splints, Nose Clips and Nasal Pillow
If you have a mild Sleep Apnea , your can use Mandibular advancement splints and Nose Clips to help increase the breadth of the air passage and thus reducing snoring. The devices such as adhesive strips which help to hold the airways open of your nose and the plastic devices to hold open your nostrils
You can also use nasal pillow which is a nose plug to keep the airways in the nasal passage open.

Radio frequency procedure
By using radio waves, it can shrink the throat tissue or tongue tissue and make more space in your throat.
A doctor use a special needle (electrode) connected to a radio frequency generator and pierces your tongue, throat or soft palate.

Surgery
There are various surgeries such as Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) helps to remove throat tissues or correcting abnormalities. It will then help to improve the airway for your easy breathing.
There are many different types of surgery for treating Sleep Apnea . Get professional advices from your doctor before you consider a surgery. It is important to talk to your doctor about the risks before you opt for a surgery.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

How do I know if I have insomnia?

2008-03-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

How do I know if I have insomnia?

Many of us do not sleep well at night, but we have no idea whether we have insomnia or not. Accordingly to the sleep scientists, if we cannot fall asleep, stay asleep or go back to sleep, we feel tired and deprived from the benefits of sleep, we are said to have insomnia.

The 3 prime symptoms of insomnia recognized by the sleep scientists: If you are experience any of the below 3 symptoms, or all or any combination, you are said to have insomnia.

Sleep onset insomnia (difficulty getting off to sleep): It is characterized by the inability to fall asleep. Normally an adult takes 8 to 15 minutes to fall asleep. If you are taking more than 30 minutes but still trying to fall asleep, you are experiencing the sleep onset insomnia.

Sleep maintenance insomnia (persistent waking up): It is characterized by the inability to stay asleep. It is usually experienced in the middle of the night which take about an hour to 2 hours. This waking up in the middle of night can happen frequently throughout the night.

Early morning insomnia (early morning waking): It is characterized by the early awakening that can causes people to wake up 1 to 4 hours before our normal waking time.

How bad is my insomnia?
Usually when people with sleep disorders visit the clinic, they will asked them to fill up a questionnaire that map out their sleep history. Thus the simplest way find out how bad is your insomnia is to keep a 1 to 2 weeks sleep dairy which will give a revealing and more accurate snapshot of your insomnia. Your sleep dairy can provide your sleep specialist additional information that need to assist you in improving your sleep.

How to start your Sleep Dairy
The Sleep dairy can keep track of the following
sleep time
wake up time
sleep quality
medication taken
how long take you to fall asleep
how many time you wake up
how long you wake up
total hours of sleep
your own sleep rating

How do I know if I have insomnia?

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Anti Aging Anti Wrinkle Face Lifting Reviews| Anti Aging Skin Care Anti Wrinkle Skin Treatment: Proper Sleep To Stay Away Aging and Wrinkles

2008-03-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

Yes it definitely can help, in additional I have some extra HEALTHY SLEEP TIPS to share at http://sleepapnea-insomnia.blogspot.com

Beat Insomnia - Relaxation Techniques

2008-03-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

Beat Insomnia - Relaxation Techniques

Look for a technique that targets your body which you have most stress and tension, it can help relieve your body and interferes with a good night’ sleep.

Abdominal Breathing
This is a type of voluntary control of breathing. First breath normally, observe the rhythm and then start your deep breathing.
- To start your deep breathing, lie down comfortably
- Gently put your hand on your stomach
- Slowly take a deep breath. It should be breath from the bottom of your stomach
- Now feel it with the air
- Your stomach muscles should raise up
- Slowly breath in it which should take about 5 seconds
- Slowly let the air go out and take about 5 seconds
- Continuous this steps 2 to 3 times in a row
- After the 2 to 3 time deep breathing go back to your normal breathing for 1 to 2 minutes
- Now you can carry on with the deep breathing steps again
- Repeat this deep breathing and normal breathing cycle a feel times

Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- This is an exercise of tensing your muscle and then relaxing it and letting your body know how you feel tense and how you can release the tense.
- To start your progressive muscle relaxation, lie down comfortably
- Focus your attention on one of your hand
- Clench your hand into a fist, squeeze it hard for 5 seconds
- Now open your fist and release all the tension in your hand muscle
- By practicing this tense up and release exercise, you body and mind can learn how to release all inside stress and tension easily
You are highly recommend to learn the relaxation techniques before actually sleep time to avoiding fail attempt on these relaxation techniques to affect you sleep. Remember always stay calm when starting the technique, you can feel the effects of the relaxation rather than the technique itself.

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Beat Insomnia - Relaxation Techniques

Food, Supplements and The Alternative Therapies for Insomnia

2008-03-05T00:20:00.000-08:00

Food, Supplements and The Alternative Therapies for Insomnia

A well balanced diet can promotes good health. Different kinds of nutrients provide us with minerals and substances that aid regulation of body processes. In additional, herbal remedies and alternative treatments have been proposed to be a cure for Insomnia too. It is worth a try to find out which method work wonderfully on you, since food, supplements and the alternative therapies are all economical, drug free and prescription free.

Food (A well balanced diet)
Food rich in tryptophan and carbohydrates can helps to promote relaxation and sleepiness. While Mineral such as calcium and magnesium are essential to our body as it create a sedative effect, calm the nerves and promote good sleep.

Food with tryptophan: Tryptophan is a kind of chemical converted in our brain to serotonin. It helps to promote relaxation and sleepiness.
Food rich in tryptophan are: cheese, milk, turkey and chicken

Food with high carbohydrates: Carbohydrates boost the production of serotonin and melatonin. So it can helps to promote relaxation and sleepiness.
Food rich in carbohydrates are: cereal and cracker

Mineral such as calcium: calcium is known to have a calming effect on the central nervous system.
Food rich in calcium are: cheese, milk, eggs, salmon, broccoli and almond.

Mineral such as magnesium: magnesium is known to have the ability to help absorbing calcium. In our daily meal, there are varies type of substances which block our body to absorb calcium, such as the oxalic acid in spinach. An adequate amount of magnesium can help fully absorbed the calcium.
Food rich in magnesium are:

Mineral such as copper, iron and zinc can help limiting the occurrence of Insomnia .
Food rich in cooper are: liver, oysters and cashews
Food rich in iron are: meat, fish and green leaf vegetables
Food rich in zinc are: beef, salmon, turkey and beans

Mineral such as B3, B6, B12 is good in fighting Insomnia
Food rich in B3 are: peanuts, tomatoes, lean meat and fish
Food rich in B6 are: whole grain and bananas
Food rich in B12 are: beef, eggs and fish

Herbal Supplements
Lavender: Studies show that the chemical in the lavender oil do help to alter our biology of sleep center which helps insomniac to fall asleep faster.

Passion Flower: It can reduces nervous tension and anxiety and helps easier to fall asleep.

Chamomile: For those who lose sleep due to stomach gas or indigestion, chamomile has the ability to expel stomach gas.

Alternative Therapies
Acupuncture: In the point of view of acupuncturist, Insomnia can be caused by an imbalance of body energy. Thus by using acupuncture, it can help the body energy to return in balance. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into our body at the very correct energy points. It can have a calming effect on our nervous system which can also stimulates our brain to produce serotonin for getting a better sleep .
Acupressure: It is similar to acupuncture that uses the same geography of meridians and pressure points. It involves finger pressure our body at the very correct energy points. It relaxes tense muscles and improves blood circulation for getting a better sleep .
Cognitive therapy: It is conducted with a therapist who helps the patient with attitudes and beliefs that may contribute to poor sleep.

Food, Supplements and The Alternative Therapies for Insomnia

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Fight Against Stress to Improve Your Sleep and TIPS to Reduce Stress

2008-03-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

Fight Against Stress to Improve Your Sleep and TIPS to Reduce Stress

1. Be calm with your Insomnia
When your stress and pressure caused by the worry of not able to fall asleep, it actually leave you more weary, irritable and more awake. As a result, the first priority is to kick off the stress in your head.

2. Learn how to relax and deep relax
We all need to relax while the insomniac need much more. The more we learn how to relax, the more chilled out we are and the more being relaxed becomes naturally. Deep relaxation can help to keep ourselves healthy by strengthening our immune system. You can try yoga and tai chi to learn how to relax deeply. Accordingly to some research, the results are so far encouraging that yoga and tai chi are helping insomniac to sleep better.

3. Find out the root of your Insomnia and remove it
If the root of Insomnia is still there in your body, it will always affect sleep.
If your stress is from your work or personal life issues and resulting in your Insomnia , remove it. It is really crucially as it can cut down your stress chord and give you more precious breathing space. A day trip, a short journey or a spa can help to reduce the stress in your mind and shoulder.

4. Think positive
You can try to turn your negative thoughts into positive thoughts about your sleep and bolster up with reinforcing statements such as ‘I am going to fall asleep’.
Negative thought: Why I always cannot get enough sleep
Positive spin: That’s OK I am doing fine with a little short of sleep. I function well.
Think more positive in mind: Not everyone need 8 hours sleep; it is not necessary to recover all our lost sleep.
By think positive, it is always as good as a good night sleep.

Relaxation Techniques
Look for a technique that targets your body which you have most stress and tension, it can help relieve your body and interferes with a good night’ sleep.

Abdominal Breathing
This is a type of voluntary control of breathing. First breath normally, observe the rhythm and then start your deep breathing.
- To start your deep breathing, lie down comfortably
- Gently put your hand on your stomach
- Slowly take a deep breath. It should be breath from the bottom of your stomach
- Now feel it with the air
- Your stomach muscles should raise up
- Slowly breath in it which should take about 5 seconds
- Slowly let the air go out and take about 5 seconds
- Continuous this steps 2 to 3 times in a row
- After the 2 to 3 time deep breathing go back to your normal breathing for 1 to 2 minutes
- Now you can carry on with the deep breathing steps again
- Repeat this deep breathing and normal breathing cycle a feel times

Progressive Muscle Relaxation
This is a exercise of tensing your muscle and then relaxing it and letting your body know how you feel tense and how you can release the tense.
- To start your progressive muscle relaxation, lie down comfortably
- Focus your attention on one of your hand
- Clench your hand into a fist, squeeze it hard for 5 seconds
- Now open your fist and release all the tension in your hand muscle
- By practicing this tense up and release exercise, you body and mind can learn how to release al inside stress and tension easily

Fight Against Stress to Improve Your Sleep and TIPS to Reduce Stress

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Causes of Insomnia

2008-03-02T01:09:00.000-08:00

Causes of Insomnia

Most people will experience Insomnia with the inability to fall asleep and significant lack of high quality sleep.

A Primary /Transient Insomnia lasts from a single night to a few weeks

A Acute / Intermittent Insomnia which happens from time to time.

It is often result from a more short term stress, change in lifestyles habits or job ad jet lag.

A Chronic Insomnia which happen most nights a week over a month or even more. It can be Primary Chronic Insomnia and Secondary Chronic Insomnia.

Primary do not related to health problem while Secondary do related to health problem such asthma or arthritis and some other drugs, stress and depression.

What can cause Insomnia ?

1) The Psychological Cause

-> Anxiety and Stress: You can experience Insomnia when you have an increased in tension, feeling worry and helplessness and some others physical and social stress.

-> Depression: You can experience Insomnia when you feel despair and sad that lead to depression.

Vulnerable to Insomnia : Some people are more likely to experience Insomnia , just like they are more likely to get upset and headache,

-> Learned Insomnia : People knowing himself suffer insomnia usually try much harder to sleep. Unfortunately, it made him more alert and even harder to fall asleep.

2) Physical Causes

-> Hormonal changes in women: Women are twice as likely to suffer from Insomnia than men during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.

-> Decreased melatonin in elderly: Insomnia tends to increase with age when the level of melatonin (the hormone for helping sleep control) decrease as a person ages.

-> Medical problems: You can experience Insomnia when there is sleep disruption such as asthma, headache, heart disease and Parkinson's disease.

3) Temporary Event Causes

-> Jet Lag: It is very common to have Insomnia when your have air travel across time zones.

-> New environment: It is also common to have sleep problem when moving into a new place.

4) Environmental Causes

-> Noise, light and room temperature: Noises such as traffic or airplane can disturb your sleep. Even though it may not cause you to wake up, if has significant effect on your sleep quality.

5) Lifestyle Causes

-> Alcohol and Caffeine Drinks: They will stimulate your body cells and keep you awaken.

-> Smoking: Nicotine is a stimulant. It will make you more difficult to fall asleep and keep you awaken.

-> Erratic hours: You are more likely to experience Insomnia if you are on shift work with rotating working hours.

-> Herbal supplements: Some kinds of herbal supplements may boost energy and keep you awake.

Understanding the causes of your sleeplessness can help to overcome the Insomnia . Our quality sleep can often affect by the normal routines and stresses we face daily. We can cure insomnia by eliminating these barriers.

Causes of Insomnia

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Are you an Insomniac? Is it Insomnia? How much Sleep do I need?

2008-02-28T21:48:00.000-08:00

Are you an Insomniac? Is it Insomnia? How much Sleep do I need?

What is the standard number of sleep hours we need to rejuvenate our body and mind? Should it be 7 or 8 or 9 hours of sleep? Accordingly to the National Center for Health Statistics, base on two third of a population sample with same numbers of men and women, their result find out a need of 7 to 8 hours sleep. It is somehow recognized that an 8 hours of sleep is needed to achieve the standard of sleep hours.

Do I have Insomnia ?

If you do not have or do not need the so called standard 8 hours of sleep, you are not yet characterized as insomniac. The need of sleep vary from one person to another, and vary over time. We can obviously find out that the need of sleep decrease from the time we were born.

Infants – About 16 hours sleep per day.

Babies – From 6 months to 3 years old, about 10 -14 hours sleep per day.

Children – From 3 to 6 years old, about 10 -12 hours sleep per day

From 7 to 9 years old, about 10 hours sleep per day

From 10 to 12 years old, about 9 hours sleep per day

Teenagers - About 8 - 9 hours sleep per day

Adults - About 7- 8 hours sleep per day

60s to 70s - About 5- 6 hours sleep per day

How to figure out the number of sleep hour you need?

For everyone of us, the number of sleep hours we need are quite constant which only changes gradually over our age. To determine the number of sleep hours needed, you can find out from the amount of necessary sleep you need in one night to the next night. There should be a consistency in your sleep need.

Is it Insomnia ?

If your own standard hours of sleep is 8 hours but having only 4 or 5 hours of sleep, in this case, Insomnia will be in serious consideration.

How much Sleep do I need?

Accordingly to Dr. James Perl who has conducted a postdoctoral study of sleep and Insomnia at the University of Colorado, we can evaluate our daytime alertness and our energy level to judge the number of sleep we need.

If you feel fresh, clear mind, widely awake, alert and energetic throughout the day, you are fine and have enough sleep. But if you feel unfresh tired and irritable during the day, you probably do not have enough sleep.

If you are forcing yourself for the so called standard 8 hours of sleep but the body need only 4 or 5 hours, Dr. Perl believes that it will only create an problem when there was none to begin with. While if during your sleep time, it is taken by your tossing and turning, Insomnia may be the culprit.

Are you an Insomniac? Is it Insomnia? How much Sleep do I need?

What is Insomnia? What are the Types and Symptoms of Insomnia ?

2008-02-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

What is Insomnia? What are the Types and Symptoms of Insomnia ?

Why call Insomnia ?
It actually takes its name from the Latin word, which literally means “no sleep” or the inability to sleep (In means "no" and somnus means "sleep" in Latin.

Who has Insomnia ?
According to the National Institutes of Health, Insomnia affects more than 70 million Americans with Insomnia affect more women than men. Women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia than men and more likely to have insomnia during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause. In addition, insomnia tends to increase with age.

What is Insomnia ?
Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep and significant lack of high quality sleep. Insomnia is being the most well known type of sleep disorder people experiencing. It Insomnia may be caused by stress, change in usual sleep pattern or an underlying medical condition. It can be short-term or long-term. A sleeping pill can be effective for short-term insomnia but not for long-term insomnia.

For many of us, Insomnia happens once a while. However for some, it can be a chronic problem. Find out the types of Insomnia you have been experiencing and get the right treatments on it.

Symptoms of Insomnia
Insomnia is an experience of poor quality or inadequate sleep. The symptoms are one or more of the following sleep complaints:
→ Difficulty to fall asleep even you feel very tired
→ Difficulty to maintan sleep
→ Awaken frequently during night time
→ Awaken very early in morning
→ Waken up feel unfresh every having 8 hours sleep
→ Lack of energy in daytime
→ Trouble thinking clearly
→ Unable to stay focus
→ Short temper
→ Daytime drowsiness and fatigue
→ Take sleeping pills in order to fall asleep

Types of Insomnia
Acute / Intermittent insomnia is short-term insomnia which happens from time to time.
It is more likely occurs on and off due to lifestyles habits change, some short-term stress or pressure, poor sleep pattern or medication. It is simple and easy to treat Acute / Intermittent Insomnia, just by practicing better sleep habits or learning how to relief stress.

Chronic insomnia is long-term insomnia which happen most nights a week over a month or even more.
It occurs due to anxiety, depress, chronic stress or chronic medical condition. In order to solve Chronic Insomnia, the underlying emotional or medical condition must be treated.

Primary /Transient insomnia is insomnia lasts from a single night to a few weeks
It is more likely occurs by a poor sleep habits such as unhealthy lifestyle habits or not setting a sleep schedule.
It is simple and easy to treat Primary /Transient Insomnia, just by going back to normal healthy sleep habits.

Insomnia is a risk factor for the onset of depression which can significantly affect the quality of life. By not having getting enough good sleep, it can result in depression, psychological distress and being at risk for driving drowsy and injury

What is Insomnia? What are the Types and Symptoms of Insomnia ?

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

10 TIPS to Stop Snoring – For the Snorer and Their Spouse

2008-02-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

10 TIPS to Stop Snoring – For the Snorer and Their Spouse

Are you deciding to sleep in a separate room to avoid Snoring problem?
Or Have you already sleep in a separate room?

If you, you should have realize that the romance has gone out of your relationship once sleeping in separate bedroom. Somehow you find missing his body next to you and your nightly chats, Right ! Because of the lack of bedtime chatting and physical intimacy, it may finally lead to a strained relationship.

If you treasure your spouse / bed partner, you can do something to save the relationship. Following are 10 simply TIPS to Stop Snoring.

TIPS No.1 -- Lose weight and stop smoking – Without Cost !!
If Snoring is caused by either Overweight and Smoking, it is the most easiest way to work through it. For Overweight, we can reduce our obese conditional and make sure that no fat formation around our throat area. For Smoker, we shall start reducing or stopping smoking. It can then avoid further weakening of our throat by smoking.

TIPS No.2 – Avoid Alcohol and Fatty products before bed -- Without Cost !!
Alcohol is a muscle relaxant which can cause the relaxation of throat muscles and worsen Snoring. Avoid high-fat dairy milk products before sleeping as the fatty retained in the throat which more likely lead to Snoring.

TIPS No.3 -- Sleep Posture Correction – Without Cost !!
Do you sleep on your back? If so, you are probably worsen the Snoring problem as your tongue will slip back into the throat and cause the blockage of airway. Simply by making yourself sleep on your side can stop the Snoring. How to work with sleeping on back, simply sew a socket on your pajamas and stick a tennis ball in it during bedtime. Easy and simple, Right!! Or you can try various kinds of pillows and strap-on devices to help you unsupine.

TIPS No.4 – Elevate your head – Without Cost !!
Pillow can block the airway by bending the neck, try without using a pillow. Or try various kinds of specially-designed pillow for snorers.

TIPS No.5 -- Throat Sprays and Nasal Sprays – Cheap Way !!
Throat spray can coat the soft tissues of the throat with lubricating oils. While nasal sprays can reduce congestion or the swelling of nasal tissues. They both allow the air to move more freely and lessening the noisy vibration.

TIPS No.6 -- Nose Strip – Cheap Way !!
It applied externally and is a kind of cheap device nose strip which help increase the breadth of the air passage and thus reducing Snoring. The devices such as adhesive strips which help to hold the airways open of your nose and the plastic devices to hold open your nostrils

TIPS No.7 -- Mouthpiece Devices
If Snoring is caused by a misalignment of the jaws, the jaws can be realigned by some custom-made fitted by own dentist. It will pull the lower jaw or tongue forward and create enough space in throat to prevent breathing obstruction. Or it can be correct though surgery or by using patented devices that help keep the jaws in their proper positions.

TIPS No.8 -- CPAP (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure)
You can use machinery with the mask blowing air through your nose and preventing disruption of breathing and help reduce Snoring.

TIPS No.9 -- Surgery
There are various surgeries such as Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) helps to remove throat tissues or correcting abnormalities. It will then help to improve the airway for your easy breathing.

TIPS No.10 -- Medical Cures and Treatments
If you cannot find out the cause of your Snoring, you can seek professional advices from your doctor. Or if you would like to try a dental appliance for your Snoring, you can consult your dentist.
Finding a cure for the Snoring problem can result in an improved quality of life for you and your loved ones. Try the above TIPS to prevent or alleviate the Snoring.

10 TIPS to Stop Snoring – For the Snorer and Their Spouse

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Suggestion for Spouse with Snore

2008-02-17T07:46:00.000-08:00

Suggestion for Spouse with Snore
Everybody snores occasionally even a baby may snore. Studies show that at least 1/3 of the adult snores.
If your spouse snore, do you know that you actually lose an average of an hour sleep every night and can be waken up as many as 21 times in an hour. Your healthy sleep pattern is being affect and being awaken by the ‘snore sound’ all night through.

Being affected by your spouse Snoring can have deeper implications than you think. It is always being overlooked that your spouse ‘snore sound’ can affect on your health such as Sleep deprivation , Drowsy Driver syndrome and Spousal Arousal Syndrome.

Do something to protect yourself to avoid problem create from Sleep deprivation and Drowsy Driver syndrome.
-> Use earplugs. Earplugs can at least drown out the ‘snore sound’.
-> Your complain being ignored. Very often your spouse will ignored your complain on their loud ‘snore sound’. Why not record it down and prove to him. Sometime with the loud and annoying ‘snore sound’, your spouse will probably take action to stop his Snoring.
-> Keep you body health with daily exercise.
-> Warm chocolate or herbal tea before bed, it help better sleep.
-> Sleep in separate rooms one or twice a week if your spouse ‘snore sound’ is very loud. At least you can catch up some sleep you have lost.
-> Avoid caffeine before bedtime as caffeine drinks will stimulate your body cells and keep you awaken.
-> Avoid nap during the day. Taking nap will throw off you body clock and you will find especially hard to fall asleep at night.
-> Encourage his lifestyle changes. If your Snoring is caused by either Overweight, Alcohol, Smoking or Caffeine, it is the most easiest way to work through it. For Overweight, we can reduce our obese conditional and make sure that no fat formation around our throat area. For Smoker, we shall start reducing or stopping smoking. It can then avoid further weakening of our throat by smoking.
-> Recommend him to use mouthpiece devices. This kind of dental device is custom-made fitted and placed in your mouth at night to hold the lower jaw and tongue forward. It will pull his lower jaw or tongue forward and create enough space in the throat to prevent breathing obstruction.

Just make sure that your spouse understands that you are doing it for the common good of two of you. Snoring is a fixable problem. Let him know you care about him and care about his Snoring may be a health warning such as overweight and excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking. By giving each other courage and support, you two can plan for your future to accommodate the Snoring.

Suggestion for Spouse with Snore
Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Snoring can hurt relationship and end up sleeping separate room

2008-02-17T02:09:00.000-08:00

Snoring can hurt relationship and end up sleeping separate room

Snoring Hurt Relationship?
Have your realize that the romance has gone out of your relationship when your spouse snoring makes you to sleep in separate bedroom.
Definitely, snoring can have a disturbing impact on family life and studies show about 80% of couples end up sleeping in different rooms because of snoring disruption. Snoring has been known to hurt and destroy relationships.

Have you ignored your spouse complaints on your Snoring?
Have you basically ignored their complain and think it is just a minor annoyance for your spouse.
If so, then it is time you show care to them. You should understand that no one requested Snoring to come into your lives. But with your ignorance on the effects of your Snoring, it can have serious problem on your health and on your spouse.

Health problem on Snorer à Many common reasons for Snoring include overweight, consumption of alcohol and smoking before bed and sleeping on one’s back.

Health problem on Spouse with snore à Studies show that bed partner of snores can generally lose an average of an hour sleep every night and can be waken up as many as 21 times in an hour. Their healthy sleep pattern is being affect and being awaken by the ‘snore sound’ all night through.
It is always being overlooked that the snorers ‘snore sound’ can affect the health of their spouse / bed partner such as Sleep deprivation, Drowsy Driver syndrome and Spousal Arousal Syndrome. And often can result in frustration and anger as sleep deprivation can create physical illnesses. Over time, it may lead to separation and even divorces.

Will Snoring ruin your marriage?
Definitely if being neglected. Ask yourself, have your bed partner waken up in the morning complaining about your snore last night? A snorer usually does not notice or hear his Snoring. It is those who sleep in the same bedroom and those in the same house are very much aware of the Snoring.

Snoring can significantly affect a relationship and ruin the marriage. A tired spouse can get very irritated by your Snoring and becomes an irritable spouse. Eventually your irritable spouse will get completely upset once hear your Snoring. What will happen then? When your spouse starts to sleep in separate rooms, your relationship is in jeopardy.

Take Snoring seriously NOW !!!!!
It is time to rescue your relationship. Treasure your spouse. Simply get advices from your doctor and find the suitable treatments.

Snoring can hurt relationship and end up sleeping separate room

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Spouse with Snore and What to do About a Snoring Spouse

2008-02-16T23:44:00.000-08:00

Spouse with Snore and What to do About a Snoring Spouse

Spouse with Snore
Snoring has a disturbing influence on spouse / bed partner listening to the Snoring. They will have has trouble sleeping deeply. With the different attributes on the “snore sound” loudness, frequency and tone, they are very annoying to the listeners. Studies show that bed partner of snores can generally lose an average of an hour sleep every night and can be waken up as many as 21 times in an hour. Their healthy sleep pattern is being affect and being awaken by the ‘snore sound’ all night through.
It is always being overlooked that the snorers ‘snore sound’ can affect the health of their spouse / bed partner such as Sleep deprivation, Drowsy Driver syndrome and Spousal Arousal Syndrome.

Spousal Arousal Syndrome
Being awakened by your partner's Snoring is called Spousal Arousal Syndrome. Due to the spouse / bed partners can be waken up as many as 21 times in an hour every night, they cannot have good sleep throughout a long period of time. It affected them both physically and mentally. Their work performance is negatively affected by the resulting of fatigue (not enough sleep).

Sleep deprivation
Sleep Apnea is a breathing problem that mainly cause Snoring. As a result, not only people with Sleep Apnea can have sleep deprivation, their bed partner will also suffer sleep deprivation when their sleeping quality is affect by a people having Sleep Apnea sleeping next to them. They will feel excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, lack of productivity and falling asleep in driving (called drowsy driver syndrome).
Effects of Sleep deprivation (can be both physically and mentally)
→ Excessive daytime sleepiness (such as fallen asleep in inappropriate times).
MILD Excessive daytime sleepiness - OSA may fall asleep in a non-stimulating environment (such as reading book in a quiet room)
SEVERE Excessive daytime sleepiness or may fall asleep in a stimulating environment (such as in meeting during work)
→ Falling asleep during work time or watching TV
→ Falling asleep during driving (called drowsy driver syndrome) because of sleep deprivation
→ Frequent cessation of breathing during sleep time
→ Morning wake up feeling unfreshed and exhausted even after asleep all night
→ Behavior and personality changes
→ Trouble in concentration
→ Poor memory and poor judgment
→ Loss of energy
→ Depression and anxiety
→ Weigh gain

What to do About a Spouse with Snore
Snoring can be a bigger problem than you would image. Have you find snoring starting to affect your daily life and your relationship? It’s time to find out the solution. There are many effective methods for stopping and reducing the Snoring.
If your spouse’s Snoring is giving you troubles, it’s time to take action.
→ Talk with your spouse. Communication is always the best method to get problem solved. Find a suitable time to talk to your spouse about the Snoring problem and the effect on you such as Sleep deprivation and spousal arousal syndrome. Let him know about the effects that Spousal Arousal Syndrome can cause.
→ Find out the reasons that cause Snoring. Many common reasons for Snoring include overweight, consumption of alcohol and smoking before bed and sleeping on one’s back. Let’s your spouse know how much you care about him and let him know it might be a health warning that cause his Snoring such as overweight, nasal congestion and nasal blockages.

→ Get advices from doctor or health care professional if not able to find out the reason behind your spouse Snoring. An anatomic abnormalities (such as enlarged tongue or receding chin have higher chance of obstructing the airway) or allergies may need to be diagnosed. In additional Sleep Apnea could be the cause, if left Sleep Apnea untreated, it can be life-threatening It can also have significant consequences such as motor vehicles crashes, high blood pressure, other cardiovascular disease, erectile dysfunction (impotence), poor memory, short temper, headaches sore throat or dry mouth in the morning.

For the Snorer:
It’s time you show care to your spouse / bed partner, you should understand that no one requested this disorder to come into your lives. Try to work things out together and enjoy the most precious things between you and your spouse like sweet memories, time spent, even tough time going through together.

For the Spouse with Snore:
Let’s your spouse know how much you care about him and let him know it might be a health warning that cause his Snoring. By giving each other courage and support, you two can plan for your future to accommodate the snoring.

Spouse with Snore and What to do About a Snoring Spouse
Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

The Hidden Victim of Sleep Apnea: The Spouse with Sleep Apnea / The Bed Partner with Sleep Apnea

2008-02-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

The Hidden Victim of Sleep Apnea: The Spouse with Sleep Apnea / The Bed Partner with Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea does not only affect yourself, it also causes great distress for your bed partner. Consider your spouse / bed partner can be wakened many times during the sleep by your lying in bed struggling to breathe, tossing and turning around. In additional, your ‘snore sound’ which is a primary symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea can kept your spouse / bed partner awake throughout night. Snoring can have a disturbing impact on family life and studies show about 80% of couples end up sleeping in different rooms because of snoring disruption. Marriage and relationship can then be challenging. It is very common to become overburdened and exhausted and somehow the sleep disorder can begin to separate couples.

Snoring has a disturbing influence on your spouse / the bed partner listening to the Snoring. They will have has trouble sleeping deeply. With the different attributes on the “snore sound” loudness, frequency and tone, they are very annoying to the listeners. Since the spouse / bed partners cannot have good sleep throughout a long period of time, their health are affected. With their poor sleep they always have, they may have sleep deprivation. They will feel excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, lack of productivity and falling asleep in driving (called drowsy driver syndrome).

If you have Sleep Apnea , have you somehow ignored your spouse / bed partner complain about your struggling to breathe, tossing and turning around that affect their sleep. Have you basically ignored their complain? Do you know with your ignorance on them, they will be the victim of Sleep Apnea ?

It’s time you show care to your spouse / bed partner, you should understand that no one requested this disorder to come into your lives. Try to work things out together and enjoy the most precious things between you and your spouse like sweet memories, time spent, even tough time going through together. By giving each other courage and support, you two can plan for your future to accommodate the Sleep Apnea .

Treatments of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is treatable. Following are some treatments of Sleep Apnea that can relieve stress and tension. Further it can you and your spouse to get better sleep quality. Get professional advice from your doctor for the best treatment on you.

Treatments of Sleep Apnea depends on the type of Sleep Apnea .
For having Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most basic instruction is to sleep on the side not on your back.
For Sleep Apnea with overweight, the first step is to reduce weight. Sleep on the side not on your back.
For Sleep Apnea with Alcohol and Smoking habit, the first step is to reduce and gradually stop drinking and smoking.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure)
If you find your snoring at a much serious stage, you can use machinery to use a mask blowing air through your nose and preventing disruption of breathing and help reduce snoring. The constant flow of air pressure from the mask can prevent the collapse of your airway when you breathe. It is the most common used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients. The CPAP machine set pressure accordingly to the user needs to prevent the collapse of your airway.

Mouthpiece Devices
If you have a mild Sleep Apnea , your can use the mouthpiece devices to keep your tongue in place and so keeping your airway open. This kind of dental device is custom-made fitted by your own dentist and placed in your mouth at night to hold the lower jaw and tongue forward. It will pull your lower jaw or tongue forward and create enough space in your throat to prevent breathing obstruction. Or it can be correct though surgery or by using patented devices that help keep the jaws in their proper positions.

Mandibular advancement splints, Nose Clips and Nasal Pillow
If you have a mild Sleep Apnea , your can use Mandibular advancement splints and Nose Clips to help increase the breadth of the air passage and thus reducing snoring. The devices such as adhesive strips which help to hold the airways open of your nose and the plastic devices to hold open your nostrils
You can also use nasal pillow which is a nose plug to keep the airways in the nasal passage open.

Radio frequency procedure
By using radio waves, it can shrink the throat tissue or tongue tissue and make more space in your throat.
A doctor use a special needle (electrode) connected to a radio frequency generator and pierces your tongue, throat or soft palate.

Surgery
There are various surgeries such as Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) helps to remove throat tissues or correcting abnormalities. It will then help to improve the airway for your easy breathing.
There are many different types of surgery for treating Sleep Apnea . Get professional advices from your doctor before you consider a surgery. It is important to talk to your doctor about the risks before you opt for a surgery.

The Hidden Victim of Sleep Apnea: The Spouse with Sleep Apnea / The Bed Partner with Sleep Apnea

Snoring in Children, Causes of Children Snoring and Symptoms Children Sleep Apnea

2008-02-12T00:44:00.000-08:00

Snoring in Children, Causes of Children Snoring and Symptoms Children Sleep Apnea

Everybody Snore occasionally even a baby may snore. Studies show that about 10% or more children Snore during their sleep. Children who are three years or older more likely to Snore during their Deep Stage of Sleep (that is when they are in deepest sleep and is very difficult to wake up at this stage, if being awaken at the Deep Stage of Sleep, they can be confused and disoriented for a few minutes).

Types of Snoring
→ Primary Snoring (also known as Simple Snoring)
→ Snoring Indicative of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Children with Primary Snoring is generally harmless. It is caused by some blockage in the nasal passage for the noisy breathing sound during your sleep. The snoring is continuous and usually rhythmic. Luckily, children will not loss of sleep having a Primary Snoring.

However it will be more seriously if children have Snoring Indicative of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). It is a sleep disorder that is potentially life-threatening due to a lack of air. People with Sleep Apnea are often diagnosed with depression when they are exhausted and cannot function properly. They will often feel sleepy during the day and gasp for breath while sleeping as the air supply gets momentarily cut off.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Children
→ Snore loudly during sleep
→ Gasps and stop breathing during sleep. Being awaken in order to breath again.
→ Excessive daytime sleepiness
→ Fall asleep in school time or watching TV
→ Regularly cessation of breathing during sleep time
→ Non restorative sleep
→ Difficult to wake up. Feel tired and exhausted in morning.
→ Behavior changes and very irritable and agitated.
→ Personality changes
→ Hard to concentrate in school.

What Causes Children Snoring?
Snore occurs when there is some blockage in the air passage when children asleep. It is the narrowing of our airway from a poor sleep posture or from an abnormality of our throat soft tissues. A narrow airway will hinder the children to have normal smooth breathing and creates the "snore sound”. In most usual case, the “snore sound” was produced when we inhale air during our sleep. While in some case, “snore sound” can be produced when we are exhaling the air. As a result, there will be a two different frequency of snore sound we hear, one through inhaling air and the other though exhaling air.

The soft tissue in our upper palate or throat starts vibrating during out sleep, these vibrating will happen even if we are breathing through our nose within any blockage. For instant, when children sleep on their back, their tongue will slip back into the throat and cause the blockage of airway. In some case, the blockage can be also due to an allergic reaction or a wrong alignment of the jaws.

If a loud and regular Snoring is found in your healthy kid during sleep, it is quite abnormal. It might be a sign of respiratory infection as both the Allergic Rhinitis and Sinus symptoms are being magnified when lay down to sleep result in more serious postnasal drip, nasal congestion and running nose. It is widely believed that Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis cause the number of Sleep Apnea .

If you find your kid with above symptoms of Sleep Apnea , it is recommend to perform a Sleep Study on him. It will help to record down your kid sleep habit, snore noise, body movement, heartbeat,…..so it can give doctor a more better understand of his state of situation and offer the most appropriate treatment on him.

Snoring in Children, Causes of Children Snoring and Symptoms Children Sleep Apnea

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Cures and Remedies for Snoring

2008-02-10T01:42:00.000-08:00

Cures and Remedies for Snoring

In order to cure the Snoring, the blockage in the air passage has to be removed. We have to find out the causes of the blockage and then follow a suitable strategy to reduce stop the snoring.

Lifestyle changes
If your Snoring is caused by either Overweight, Alcohol, Smoking or Caffeine, it is the most easiest way to work through it. For Overweight, we can reduce our obese conditional and make sure that no fat formation around our throat area. For Smoker, we shall start reducing or stopping smoking. It can then avoid further weakening of our throat by smoking.

Sleep Posture Correction
If your Snoring is caused by the tongue slipping back into the throat when sleeps on the back, by making yourself sleep on your side can would stop the Snoring. There are various kinds of pillows and strap-on devices to help you unsupine.

Mouthpiece Devices
If your Snoring is caused by a misalignment of the jaws, the jaws can be realigned by some custom-made fitted by your own dentist. It will pull your lower jaw or tongue forward and create enough space in your throat to prevent breathing obstruction. Or it can be correct though surgery or by using patented devices that help keep the jaws in their proper positions.

Mandibular advancement splints, Nose Clips and
There are other kind of devices such as mandibular advancement splints and nose clips to help increase the breadth of the air passage and thus reducing Snoring. The devices such as adhesive strips which help to hold the airways open of your nose andthe plastic devices to hold open your nostrils

Throat Sprays and Nasal Sprays
Throat spray can coat the soft tissues of the throat with lubricating oils. While nasal sprays can reduce congestion or the swelling of nasal tissues. They both allow the air to move more freely and lessening the noisy vibration.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure)
If you find your Snoring at a much serious stage, you can use machinery to use a mask blowing air through your nose and preventing disruption of breathing and help reduce Snoring.

Surgery
There are various surgeries such as Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP) helps to remove throat tissues or correcting abnormalities. It will then help to improve the airway for your easy breathing.

Medical Cures and Treatments
If you cannot find out the cause of your snoring, you can seek professional advices from your doctor. Or if you would like to try a dental appliance for your Snoring, you can consult your dentist.
Try to find out the causes of your Snoring as early as possible, it can help to improve your sleep and health and so do your bed partner will be benefited from it.

Cures and Remedies for Snoring

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Types of Snoring, Effects of Snoring, Why we should care Snoring?

2008-02-10T00:46:00.001-08:00

Types of Snoring, Effects of Snoring, Why we should care Snoring?

Why we should care Snoring?
Everybody Snore occasionally even a baby may Snore. Studies show that at least 1/3 of the adult snores. If you have Snoring, it does not only affect yourself, it also causes great distress for your bed partners. Snoring can have a disturbing impact on family life and studies show about 80% of couples end up sleeping in different rooms because of Snoring disruption.

Snoring has a disturbing influence on the bed partners and persons listening to the Snoring. They will have has trouble sleeping deeply. With the different attributes on the “snore sound” loudness, frequency and tone, they are very annoying to the listeners. Since the sleep partners or the listeners cannot have good sleep throughout a long period of time, their health are affected. Due to the poor sleep they always have, their sleep partners or listeners may have sleep deprivation. They will feel excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, lack of productivity and falling asleep in driving (called drowsy driver syndrome).

Snoring is a problem
→ Result in stop breathing during sleep and need to wake up to catch your breath. Seriously affect your quality of sleep
→ It distribute your sleep partner and affect his/her health
→ On and off awake because of stop breathing, you will lose your sleep eventually

Types of Snoring
→ Primary Snoring (also known as Simple Snoring)
→ Snoring Indicative of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Effects of Snoring
It is generally harmless if you have having Primary Snoring. It is caused by some blockage in the nasal passage for the noisy breathing sound during your sleep. The snoring is continuous and usually rhythmic. Luckily, you will not loss of sleep if you are having a Primary Snoring.

It will be more seriously if you have Snoring Indicative of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is a sleep disorder that is potentially life-threatening due to a lack of air. People with Sleep Apnea are often diagnosed with depression when they are exhausted and cannot function properly. They will often feel sleepy during the day and gasp for breath while sleeping as the air supply gets momentarily cut off.

Sleep Apnea can raises your blood pressure and reduces the flow of oxygen to your brain. As a result, it will lead to heart disease, stroke and death. Studies also show that Snoring may lead to diabetes. As indicated in the study, Snoring reduces the intake of oxygen and trigger your body to produce more catecholamines. With the more catecholamines being produced, it may lead to insulin resistance, that is diabetes.

To determine which type of Snoring a person has, you can perform a sleep study, also know as polysomnogram.

Types of Snoring, Effects of Snoring, Why we should care Snoring?

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Snoring - What Causes Snoring?

2008-02-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

Snoring - What Causes Snoring?

Snore occurs when there is some blockage in the air passage when we are asleep. It is the narrowing of our airway from a poor sleep posture or from an abnormality of our throat soft tissues. A narrow airway will hinder our normal smooth breathing and creates the "snore sound”. In most usual case, the “snore sound” was produced when we inhale air during our sleep. While in some case, “snore sound” can be produced when we are exhaling the air. As a result, there will be a two different frequency of Snore sound we hear, one through inhaling air and the other though exhaling air.

The soft tissue in our upper palate or throat starts vibrating during out sleep, these vibrating will happen even if we are breathing through our nose within any blockage. For instant, when a person sleeps on his back, his tongue will slip back into the throat and cause the blockage of airway. In some case, the blockage can be also due to an allergic reaction or a wrong alignment of the jaws.

Snorers often have too much throat and nasal tissue that cause the vibrating. You can find Snoring always happen in grandparents (elderly) as well as in our parents. It is the result from the relaxation of throat muscles during sleep. When you are younger, you will have a stronger muscle tone to control your throat muscle, but as you grow much older, your throat tissues will get much flabbier and easily have it relax during your sleep. Sometime overweigh do contribute to the “snore sound” with the extra fat tissue build in the neck and throat that obstruct airway.

We usually closed our mouth during sleeping where the inhalation and exhalation process takes place through our nasal passage. Snoring can also happen when we sleep with our mouth open. When we open our mouth during sleep, the air we breathe in sometimes causes the soft palate to vibrate and result with the “snore sound”. You can find from your bed partner’s or parents that the “snore sound” produced at a variable level. It depend on the intensity of the vibration of the soft palate, the sound level can vary from a gentle rhythmic sound to a loud rumbling noise that can be really annoying. Snoring can be mild, the “snore sound” stops when the snorer wakes up and turns over. While for a severe case, the snorer suffers from continual snoring, regardless of sleep position.

Everybody Snore occasionally even a baby may Snore. Studies show that at least 1/3 of the adult Snore. Snoring can have deeper implications than you think. By getting to know the causes and cures for Snoring, it can help to improve your sleep quality, to improve your health and your bed partner’s relationship.

Causes of Snoring within our Control
→ Smoking – Smoking or second hand smoking can cause the relaxation of throat muscles. It can also creates nasal and lung congestion.
→ Overweight – The excess fat tissue build in the neck and throat will obstruct airway. While a poor muscle tone and lax muscles will makes Snoring more likely.
→ Sleep posture - Sleeping on his back, his tongue will slip back into the throat and cause the blockage of airway.
→ Alcohol - Alcohol can cause the relaxation of throat muscles which makes Snoring more likely.

Causes of Snoring out of our Control
→ Middle age and Elderly - When you are younger, you will have a stronger muscle tone to control your throat muscle, but as you grow much older, your throat tissues will get much flabbier and easily have it relax during your sleep.
→ Heredity – If you inherit a narrow throat, it will reduce the size of air passages which can cause Snoring easily.
→ Male Gender – Studies show that men have narrower air passages than women. So men are more likely to Snore.
→ Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) and Sinusitis – Due to the blockage in nasal airway from Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) and Sinus make inhaling air difficult, which result in a vacuum in throat and noisy breathing.

Snoring - What Causes Snoring?

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Sleep Apnea, a Common Type of Sleep Disorder - Effects of Sleep Apnea on health, Effects of Sleep deprivation and Oxygen deprivation

2008-02-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

Sleep Apnea, a Common Type of Sleep Disorder - Effects of Sleep Apnea on health, Effects of Sleep deprivation and Oxygen deprivation

Sleep Apnea is a Common Type of Sleep Disorder that can be very serious, and even life-threatening.

Effects of Sleep Apnea on health
It is very common finding OSA people with very fragmented and poor quality sleep. OSA people will have the below cycle repeated throughout the night.

Sleep Apnea start
-->
airway being block
-->
“without breathing”, no in taking oxygen
-->
brain awake the sleeper for oxygen
-->
airway open again and resume breathing again
-->
Apnea start again
-->
airway being block again
-->
“without breathing”, no in taking oxygen
-->
brain awake the sleeper for oxygen again
-->
airway re-open again and resume breathing again
-->
repeat and repeat again throughout the night

When we stop breathing and stop in taking oxygen, our blood level of oxygen and carbon dioxide is being disturbed. The imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide level will stimulates the brain to “ask for” oxygen again. The brain will awake the sleeper so tighten the soft tissues of the larynx and throat muscles and increase the airway for in taking the oxygen and out going the carbon dioxide.
This arousal from sleep usually last for a few seconds, however the distribution generate by frequent arousal from sleep will affect the quality of sleep throughout the night. The main effects of Sleep Apnea are sleep deprivation and oxygen deprivation.

Effects of Sleep Apnea are sleep deprivation and oxygen deprivation.

Sleep deprivation
Not only people with Sleep Apnea can have sleep deprivation, their bed partner will also suffer sleep deprivation when their sleeping quality is affect by a people having Sleep Apnea sleeping next to them. The bed partner may lose many hours of sleep thought night.
As for the people with Sleep Apnea , due to the poor of sleep they always have, they are much more tired and frustrated which make them less able to recognize the effects of sleep deprivation. Some side effects such as frequent urinate and excessive sweating during night.

Effects of Sleep deprivation (can be both physically and mentally)
→ Excessive daytime sleepiness (such as fallen asleep in inappropriate times).
MILD Excessive daytime sleepiness - OSA may fall asleep in a non-stimulating environment (such as reading book in a quiet room)
SEVERE Excessive daytime sleepiness or may fall asleep in a stimulating environment (such as in meeting during work)
→ Falling asleep in work time or watching TV
→ Falling asleep in driving (called drowsy driver syndrome) because of sleep deprivation
→ Frequent cessation of breathing during sleep time
→ Morning wake up feeling unfreshed and exhausted even after asleep all night
→ Bad memory
→ Bad judgment
→ Short Temper
→ Trouble in concentration
→ lack of energy
→ Depression and anxiety
→ Weigh gain

Oxygen deprivation
When stop breathing (or “without breath” apnea name from the Greek word meaning without breath), there is a stop of in taking oxygen. It is usually accompanied by a decrease in blood oxygen saturation and result in . oxygen deprivation. When the brain does not get enough oxygen, it may precipitate a high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.

Sleep Apnea, a Common Type of Sleep Disorder - Effects of Sleep Apnea on health, Effects of Sleep deprivation and Oxygen deprivation

Sleep Apnea – Symptoms, Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea

2008-02-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

Sleep Apnea – Symptoms, Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea

Symptoms and Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea (can be both physically and mentally):

→ Excessive daytime sleepiness (such as fallen asleep in inappropriate times).
MILD Excessive daytime sleepiness - OSA may fall asleep in a non-stimulating environment (such as reading book in a quiet room)
SEVERE Excessive daytime sleepiness or may fall asleep in a stimulating environment (such as in meeting during work)
→ Falling asleep during work time or watching TV
→ Falling asleep during driving (called drowsy driver syndrome) because of sleep deprivation
→ Frequent cessation of breathing during sleep time
→ Non restorative sleep
→ Choking or gasping during sleep time in order get oxygen
→ Awakening during the night to restart breathing
→ Loud snoring
→ Morning wake up feeling unfreshed and exhausted even after asleep all night
→ Behavior and personality changes
→ Trouble in concentration
→ Poor memory and poor judgment
→ Loss of energy
→ Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
→ Depression. Studies show about 1 in 5 people with depression has Sleep Apnea, and people with Sleep Apnea are of 5 times higher to have depression.
→ Weigh gain
→ Hyperactive for children

Risk factors of Sleep Apnea :
→ Overweight or Obesity –The accumulation of fat in the upper sides airway can result in a narrower airway and easily to close when the muscles relax.
→ Alcohol or sedative use before sleep – Cause both the throat muscles and tongue to relax more and simply obstructed the airway.
→ Smoking - Cause inflammation, swelling and thus a narrower airway
→ Snoring – Cause the soft palate in the back of the throat to length and increase the chance of collapse and obstruct the airway during the sleep.
→ Large tonsil – Higher chance of obstructing the airway
→ Nasal congestion and nasal blockages
→ Elderly - Loss of muscle mass and replaced by fat, it will result in a narrower airway and easily to close when the muscles relax.
→ Anatomic abnormalities (such as enlarged tongue or receding chin have higher chance of obstructing the airway)
→ Family history of OSA – Even though no proven for inherit pattern
→ Lack of awareness on Children - Sleep Apnea can strike anyone at any age, however it is always neglect for the children age group

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Sleep Apnea – Symptoms, Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea – Types of Sleep Apnea, Causes of Sleep Apnea

2008-02-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

Sleep Apnea – Types of Sleep Apnea, Causes of Sleep Apnea

What are the causes?
Sleep Apnea can be caused by either a complete blockage of the airway (called Obstructive Apnea) or by a partial blockage (called Obstructive hypopnea, where hypopnea is a shallow breathing).

What are the types of Sleep Apnea ?
There are 3 types of Sleep Apnea:
→ Obstructive Sleep Apnea ( OSA ) – Most common type
→ Central Sleep Apnea
→ Mixed Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ( OSA ) is caused by a blockage of the airway, which stops the airflow into the nose and mouth and preventing air from getting to the lungs. It happen usually when the soft tissues of the larynx relax too much, loses throat muscle and closes the airway during the sleep. Around this area, there are no firm structures (such as cartilage or bone) to hold the airway open and as result, the airway collapses and obstructed when the throat muscles relax during sleep time. By this time, when there is a stop of in taking oxygen (“without breathing”), the brain will awake the sleeper in order to resume breathing again. This arousal from sleep usually last for a few seconds, however the distribution generate by frequent arousal from sleep will affect the quality of sleep throughout the night. Thus it is very common finding OSA people with very fragmented and poor quality sleep.
i.e.
1st Sleep Apnea begins
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
blockage of the airway
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
“without breathing”, stop of in taking oxygen
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
brain awake the sleeper for oxygen
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
airway open again and resume breathing again
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
2nd Sleep Apnea begins
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
again blockage of the airway happen
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
“without breathing”, stop of in taking oxygen
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
brain awake the sleeper for oxygen again
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
airway re-open again and resume breathing again
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
OSA people will have the above Apnea cycle repeated throughout the night.
Accordingly to a survey, the frequency of waking up is about 10 to 60 times. However people with OSA can wake up more than 100 times thought the sleep.

OSA is the most common Sleep Apnea with about 2% of women and 4% of men over the age of 35 have OSA .
OSA aggravates congestive heart failure by placing stress on the heart during sleep or result from a lack of oxygen supply to the lung and may precipitate a heart attack or stroke.

Central Sleep Apnea is caused by the failure of brain signaling the muscle to breath. It is usually accompanied by a decrease in blood oxygen saturation as there is a stop of in taking oxygen. There is no blockage of the airway as in OSA, the airway remains open. However the diaphragm and chest muscles will stop working and “ask for” breathing. When there is a fall in oxygen level, the brain will awake the sleeper and thus able to resume breathing again. People with Central Sleep Apnea usually aware of their nightly awakening.

Central Sleep Apnea usually happens when people grow older. About 25% of people with age 60 or above experience the distribution of breathing during sleep time. In elderly, the loss of muscle mass are replaced by fat. It will then result in a narrower airway and easily to close when the muscles relax. It may not be a severe problem, however it will become severe if people having Central Sleep Apnea have congestive heart failure or neurological disorders. When people with Sleep Apnea stop breathing, there is a lack of oxygen supply to the lung and may precipitate a heart attack or stroke.

Mixed Sleep Apnea is caused by is a combination of Obstructive Sleep Apnea ( OSA ) and Central Sleep Apnea. It usually begins with a Central Sleep Apnea and then later becomes ( OSA ).

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Sleep Apnea – Types of Sleep Apnea, Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea – Is Sleep Apnea Treatable, Types on Sleep Apnea

2008-02-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

Sleep Apnea – Is Sleep Apnea Treatable, Types on Sleep Apnea

Why call Sleep Apnea ?
It actually takes its name from the Greek word apnea, which literally means "without breath".

Sleep Apnea is a serious sleeping disorder that people will temporarily stop breathing during their sleep. The stop (“without breath”) can last of 10 seconds, a minute or even longer as the airway is being obstructed. It can happen from 20 - 30 within an hour to a few hundred times during a single might sleep.

How many people with Sleep Apnea in the States?
According to the National Institutes of Health, Sleep Apnea is very common and affects more than 12 million people in the United States.

How to know if I have a Sleep Apnea ?
Sleep apnea is a disruption of breathing during sleep or “without breath” repeatedly during asleep. Over 90% of people with Sleep Apnea do not know they have Sleep Apnea . It is usually their bed partner first notices the person struggling to breathe.

Is Sleep Apnea affect only adults?
No, children can have Sleep Apnea .
Adults with Sleep Apnea will temporarily stop breathing (“without breath”) for at least 10 seconds, while in children, the “without breathing” can last about 2 1/2 missed breaths.

Is Sleep Apnea treatable?
Yes, Sleep Apnea is treatable, however it is often undiagnosed. Accordingly to a survey, at least 10 million people in the United States have unrecognized Sleep Apnea.

What are the effects if left Sleep Apnea untreated?
If left untreated, it can be life-threatening It can also have significant consequences such as motor vehicles crashes, high blood pressure, other cardiovascular disease, erectile dysfunction (impotence), poor memory, short temper, headaches sore throat or dry mouth in the morning.
While children with untreated Sleep Apnea may be hyperactive.

What are the types of Sleep Apnea ?
There are 3 types of Sleep Apnea :
→ Obstructive Sleep Apnea ( OSA ) – Most common type
→ Central Sleep Apnea
→ Mixed Sleep Apnea

What are the causes?
Sleep Apnea can be caused by either a complete blockage of the airway (called Obstructive Apnea OSA ) or by a partial blockage (called Obstructive hypopnea, where hypopnea is a shallow breathing).

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Sleep Apnea – Is Sleep Apnea Treatable, Types on Sleep Apnea

Symptoms, Types, Treatments: Sleep Disorders

2008-02-04T23:08:00.000-08:00

Symptoms, Types, Treatments: Sleep Disorders

Symptoms, Types, Treatments: Sleep Disorders

Do I have a Sleep Disorders?
For adult, we need 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. However not everyone is able to get the comfortable 8 hours we need. Having a good night sleep is very important for us to maintain our best mental and physical health. Many people left their sleep disorders untreated. Without finding out the underlying causes, it will further put our health in risk.

Self-Diagnosis
To determine whether you have sleep disorders or not, recording a sleep dairy can help. A sleeping habits history can help you and your doctor to find out the causes. Your sleep dairy show include the following:-
→ Time go to bed
→ Time wake up
→ Number of sleep hours
→ Times you wake up during night
→ How to you rate your sleep, not good, fair or good
→ Your activity before bed
→ Your last meal time before bed
→ Any smoking, alcohol and caffeine drinks before bed
→ Any drugs or medications taken. What time and amount you have take.

Types of Sleep Disorders
There are more than 100 types of sleep disorder.
→ Insomnia (lack of sleep) being the well known
→ Sleep Apnea
→ REM Sleep behavior disorder
→ RSL Restless leg syndrome
→ Narcolepsy (excessive sleep)

Insomnia (Lack of Sleep)
Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep and significant lack of high-quality sleep. Insomnia is being the most well known type of sleep disorder people experiencing. It can be short-term or long-term. A sleeping pill can be effective for short-term insomnia but not for long-term insomnia.

Symptoms of Insomnia
→ Very difficult to fall asleep even you feel very tired
→ Awaken frequently during night time
→ Awaken very early in morning
→ Lack of energy in daytime
→ Short temper
→ Take sleeping pills in order to fall asleep

Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder that people will temporarily stop breathing during their sleep. The stop (“without breath”) can last of 10 seconds, a minute or even longer as the airway is being obstructed. It can happen from 20 - 30 within an hour to a few hundred times during a single might sleep.
Sleep Apnea can be caused by either a complete blockage of the airway (called Obstructive Apnea) or by a partial blockage (called Obstructive hypopnea, where hypopnea is a shallow breathing).

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
→ Excessive daytime sleepiness
→ Fall asleep in work time or watching TV
→ Fall asleep when driving
→ Regularly cessation of breathing during sleep time
→ Non restorative sleep
→ Feel un freshed and exhausted in morning wake up
→ Behavior changes
→ personality changes
→ Hard to concentrate

RLS Restless Leg Syndrome
RLS is a neurologic sensorimotor disorder resulting in prickly or tingling sensations in the legs when the legs are at rest. RLS symptoms are temporarily relieved by movement or pressure.

Narcolepsy (Excessive sleep)
People with narcolepsy will fall asleep uncontrollably throughout the day. It can happen at anytime even your body is in moving motion.

Symptoms of Narcolepsy
→ Cataplexy
→ Sleep paralysis
→ Hypnagogic hallucinations

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Symptoms, Types, Treatments: Sleep Disorders

Sleep: Healthy Sleep Tips

2008-02-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

Sleep: Healthy Sleep Tips

Sleep: Healthy Sleep Tips

Following are some tips that can help you achieve better sleep
→ Go to bed at same time every night and even during weekend. When our body get used to the routine, it will provoke us to sleep by sending message from our circadian clock.

→ Establish a relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a warm bathtub, listening to soothing music or sipping a cup of relaxing herbal tea. With the relaxing before bedtime routine, it can help your body to ease all the tension you have and go to sleep easily.

→ Relax your body before sleep. You can do some breathing exercise to relax your whole body helping it easier to go to sleep.

→ Quite bedroom environment. A quiet and peaceful bedroom environment helps fallen asleep.

→ Comfortable bedding. A suitable mattress, a comfortable pillows and cotton sheets helps one to fall asleep easily.

→ Bed only for sleep. It is not recommend to do your works or watch TV in your bed. You should create a bedding environment for your body to recognize.

→ Do not over eat before sleep and finish eating least 2-3 hours before bed. You will feel less comfortable if you eat right before bed or having heavy meal before bedtime. It will cause indigestion and affect your sleep.

→ Do not exercise before sleep. Exercise will stimulate blood circulation and body muscles. It takes time to calm down your body to go into sleep.

→ Do not drink alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine drinks will stimulate your body cells and keep you awaken.

→ Do not smoke. Nicotine is a stimulant. It will make you more difficult to fall asleep and keep you awaken.

→ Do not nap during day time. Try to avoid nap if you have trouble sleeping at night. Taking nap will throw off you body clock and you will find especially hard to fall asleep at night.

→ Check body iron level. People with iron deficiency tend to have difficulty to go into sleep.

→ Exercise regulary but at least 3 hours before bed. Exercise can help to increase the amount of your deep sleep.

With the above tips, hope you can get a better sleep. If your sleeping problem still continuous, it is highly recommend to consult your doctor to find out the underlying causes.

Read My Latest Posts on Topics: Sleep Apnea,Insomnia,Snoring,Sleep Disorders!

Sleep: Healthy Sleep Tips

Symptoms, Treatments, Remedy: Sleep Apnea, Allergic Rhinitis and Sinus

2008-02-04T18:13:00.000-08:00

Symptoms, Treatments, Remedy: Sleep Apnea, Allergic Rhinitis and Sinus

Postnasal drip and nasal congestion are common symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis. Both the Allergic Rhinitis and Sinus symptoms are being magnified when lay down to sleep result in more serious postnasal drip, nasal congestion and running nose. It is widely believed that Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis cause the number of Sleep Apnea .

What is Sleep Apnea ?
Sleep Apnea is a serious sleeping disorder that people will temporarily stop breathing during their sleep. The stop (“without breath”) can last of 10 seconds, a minute or even longer as the airway is being obstructed. It can happen from 20 - 30 within an hour to a few hundred times during a single might sleep.
Sleep Apnea can be caused by either a complete blockage of the airway (called Obstructive Apnea OSA) or by a partial blockage (called Obstructive hypopnea, where hypopnea is a shallow breathing).

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea ?
→ Excessive daytime sleepiness (such as fallen asleep in inappropriate times).
MILD Excessive daytime sleepiness - OSA may fall asleep in a non-stimulating environment (such as reading book in a quiet room)
SEVERE Excessive daytime sleepiness or may fall asleep in a stimulating environment (such as in meeting during work)
→ Falling asleep during work time or watching TV
→ Falling asleep during driving (called drowsy driver syndrome) because of sleep deprivation
→ Frequent cessation of breathing during sleep time
→ Non restorative sleep
→ Choking or gasping during sleep time in order get oxygen
→ Awakening during the night to restart breathing
→ Loud snoring
→ Morning wake up feeling unfreshed and exhausted even after asleep all night
→ Behavior and personality changes
→ Trouble in concentration
→ Poor memory and poor judgment
→ Loss of energy
→ Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
→ Depression. Studies show about 1 in 5 people with depression has Sleep Apnea , and people with Sleep Apnea are of 5 times higher to have depression.
→ Weigh gain
→ Hyperactive for children

What is Allergic Rhinitis ?
Allergic Rhinitis also known as Hay Fever occurs when our body immune system overreacts to some substances we breath in from the air. Our body immune system tried to protect itself by attacking the substance we breathe in.

Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis ?
→ Repeat Sneezing especially in morning
→ Contiinuous Running Nose and Postnasal Drip.
→ Itchy eyes, nose, throat

What is Sinusitis ?
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages. Sinus infection occurs when the foreign bacteria sticks onto the lining cells.

Symptoms of Sinusitis ?
→ Headaches in the temper
→ Sometimes fever
→ Pain and Pressure in the eyes and nose

Remedy to help Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis which and reduce Sleep Apnea

Some changes in environment may be helpful to people with Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis who end up to have Sleep Apnea .
→ Humidifier – By using humdifier and adjust the humidity to our comfort level, it can help moistureing the sinus, nose and nasal passages for easy breathing.
→ Hepa Air Purifier – By purfying the air, it cleanse up the dust, animal dander or molds substance in air and thus reduce nsal congestion.
→ Dust Mite Covers – By using the dust mite covers on your mattress, pillow and blanket, it can help reduce the allergy reaction against dust, animal dander or molds substance.
Since Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis cause the number of Sleep Apnea , with the above changes in environemnt to improve breathing during sleep, hopefully they can reduce your Sleep Apnea .

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Symptoms, Treatments, Remedy: Sleep Apnea, Allergic Rhinitis and Sinus

Sleep - How much sleep do we need?

2008-02-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

Sleep - How much sleep do we need?

How much sleep do we need

It is hard to set a standard sleeping hours for all people. Though it is highly recommend to have 8 hours sleep every night in order to have our body function effectively, not every adults can sleep straight 8 hours thought night. There are a number of factors affecting the amount of sleep we need, such as our daily activities, our age and our genetic make up. To determine whether you have enough sleep or not, if you wake up in the morning find your self fresh, you are fine.

Infants – About 16 hours sleep per day.

Babies – From 6 months to 3 years old, about 10 -14 hours sleep per day.
Children – From 3 to 6 years old, about 10 -12 hours sleep per day
Children – From 7 to 9 years old, about 10 hours sleep per day
Children – From 10 to 12 years old, about 9 hours sleep per day
Teenagers - About 8 - 9 hours sleep per day
Adults - About 7- 8 hours sleep per day
Elderly - About 8- 10 hours sleep per day

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Sleep - How much sleep do we need?

Sleep - Stages of Sleep

2008-02-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

Sleep - Stages of Sleep

Sleep - Stages of Sleep

Stage 1 (Drowsiness) – Our brain gives the signal to our heart to beat at a slower rate, give signal to our body for a drop in body temperature, to our muscles for a slow in muscle activity and our eyes to more slowly under the eyelids. During this stage, it takes about 5 – 10 minutes for us to fall asleep.

Stage 2 (Light Sleep) – After a while, we are in light sleep. Our heart beat has slows, body temperature has drops, muscles has slow and eyes movement has stop. We can be easily waken up during this stage.

Stage 3 (Slow Wave Sleep) – We are now in deeper sleep and cannot be waken up easily. Some people may have a sleepwalk while Children may experience bedwetting at this stage.

Stage 4 (Deep Sleep) – We are in deepest sleep and is very difficult to wake up at this stage. If being awaken, we can be confused and disoriented for a few minutes.

Stage 5 (REM Sleep or Dream Sleep) – REM stand for rapid eye movement. We enter into REM Sleep after 90 minutes in our sleep cycle. Our eyes will move back and forth rapidly beneath our eyelids, our heart will beat faster and breathe less regularly. We can have 2 – 5 REM every night. We dream during REM sleep.

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Sleep - Stages of Sleep

Sleep - Why do human being need sleep?

2008-02-03T19:58:00.000-08:00

Sleep - Why do human being need sleep

Sleep - Why do human being need sleep

Not only human beings, mammals, reptiles, and birds need sleep to survive. Our body needs sleep and more importantly, our brain need sleep too. Sleep allows our brain to recharge and helps us to restore and rejuvenate many body functions. During sleep, our body’s major organ and regulatory systems continue to work. While some parts of our brain are more active during sleep time to produce certain kind of hormones.

→ Recharge our brain – During sleep, it gives our brain a time to recharge. Our brain will take a “sleep” and do all the necessary repairing, rejuvenating, reenergizing and restoring.

→ Memory and Learning - During sleep, it gives our brain to reorganize information and long-term memories. It can also help us to process and integrate new information and recover memories.

→ Restore chemicals and Replace muscles – During sleep, it gives time to restore chemicals and replace muscles which are being exhausted during aware.

→ Immune System – Sleep can affect immune system. During sleep, it gives our body to replace and renew tissues, nerve cells and aging cells By strengthening our immune system, it helps keeping us from sickness.

→ Growth – Sleep can affect growth especially in children and teenagers when certain hormone is actively produce during sleep.

→ A rest of our heart and lungs – During sleep, it gives our heart and lungs a time to rest. Study shows that people with normal or high blood pressure can have a 20-30% reduce in pressure and a 10-20% reduce in heart rate.

What if we do not have enough sleep?
→ Heavy and groggy feeling
→ Trouble in concentration
→ Poor memory and poor judgment
→ Loss of energy
→ Fatigue
→ Drop in performance
→ Behavior and personality changes
→ Injuries and accidents

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Sleep - Why do human being need sleep