Today I am going to discuss a common but often undiagnosed problem; Sleep apnea. Common symptoms included feeling tired upon waking, excessive fatigue during the day, not remembering having dreamed. Many times a loved one will report that they stop breathing when they sleep. The main treatment is CPAP, discussed below, for alternatives to CPAP in sleep apnea read on.

Sleep apnea is caused by a closure in the trachea tube while you sleep. Obesity is considered a complicating factor in this condition. This is not to say that people of normal weight cannot hold their breath while sleeping; it is only more frequent in overweight.

The medical consequences of sleep apnea are serious. The closure of the airways during sleep causes all kinds of problems. This in turn reduces the oxygenation of the blood. All your organs need oxygen; but the heart is the most susceptible in patients with sleep apnea. The effects are heart rhythm problems, arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden death. So you can see why treating sleep apnea is important. Some of you may remember Reggie White, he used to play football for the Green Bay Packers. His unexpected cause of death was sleep apnea.

So back to why I write about this disease. The most common treatment recommended is weight loss. The best way to achieve this is to learn how to burn fat and lose weight permanently. A discussion of the best way to lose weight is beyond the scope of this article. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is often recommended. CPAP is considered the gold standard treatment. This is administered through a mask or nasal pillows. Many people have a hard time getting used to this method and compliance is an issue. Surgery is rarely recommended. This is because it usually requires breaking the jaw and is quite extensive surgery. Surgery is not guaranteed to work, so you can see why it is rarely used.

Alternative treatments vary, but weight loss is the main effective method. Some people respond to dental appliances that keep the airways open; and others may respond to minor surgical procedures. An example would be removing the tonsils, adenoids, and uvula. The uvula is the small teardrop-shaped tissue that hangs from the top of the roof of the mouth. There are several other methods that may or may not work for different people as well. Please see the link below for more information and good luck managing your sleep apnea; and remember that your health and your life may depend on it.