Sleep Apnea and Oximeter

Apnea, or ‘Apnoea’, is a technical term for suspension of breathing. An apnea event is defined as a breath cessation for a minimum of 10 minutes, with a neurological arousal and/or a blood oxygen desaturation of three to four or greater. Sleep apnea is a breath disorder during sleep which may cause serious consequences such as heart failure.

There are three types of sleep apnea are central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea (the combination of the two types). Central sleep apnea is caused by the imbalance of brain respiratory control center, while obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the obstruction of airway by decreased muscle tone or increased soft tissue around the airway (e.g. obesity or aging). Obstructive sleep apnea makes up about 84% of sleep apnea cases; the complex sleep apnea makes up about 15% and the central sleep apnea makes up 0.4%. [1]

The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea commonly include loud snoring, restless sleep, and sleepiness during the daytime. The treatment of this type of sleep apnea is usually the use of breathing treatments, such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). Other habits that contribute to symptoms of sleep apnea is smoking, drinking alcohol, or losing large amounts of weight.

Due to the drop of oxygen level and increase of carbon dioxide level during sleep, hypoxia and hypercapnia are usually the results of central sleep apnea. Consequently, hypoxia and hypercapnia have effects on human body and could result in more serious health issues, angina, arrhythmias, heart attacks or at worst sudden death. [2]

Diagnostic tests of sleep apnea include home oximetry or polysomnograph readings in a sleep clinic. Oximeters that measures blood oxygen levels are a necessary device to measure normal stats in a person’s body while their asleep. According to the results of a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine.

“The practical purpose of diagnostic assessment in most cases of obstructive sleep apnea is to predict which patients have symptoms that will improve on treatment. Portable monitors record primarily oxygen saturation, can be used at home without supervision, and are cheaper [than polysomnography].”

OctiveTech oximeters offer a flexible and affordable way for sleep apnea sufferers and their doctors to monitor their blood saturation during sleep. We especially recommend the handhelds that alarm at a certain low blood oxygen concentration.

References:
[1] Mayo Clinic Discovers New Type Of Sleep Apnea, ScienceDaily, 2006
[2] Sleep apnea, Wikipedia

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CPAP Machines Offer Help Sleep Apnea Patents Sleep Easy

Sleep apnea deprives many people of restful sleep

CPAP machines help people with sleep apnea rest simple

Many people suffer from sleep apnea and don’t even know it. This is because sleep apnea happens while the person is asleep, and the only effects people generally feel from it are increased sleepiness. Sleep apnea can cause larger problems though, such as increased blood pressure. Fortunately, it can be treated once diagnosed.

“Apnea” literally translates as “without breath”, which describes what happens during sleep apnea. The soft tissue in the airways relaxes during sleep and restricts breathing. The restriction isn’t enough to make the person wake up, but it does restrict how much oxygen gets to the brain during sleep. This causes the brain to not get the full benefits of sleep.

CPAP Treatment

Fortunately, there are a number of treatments for sleep apnea. Most of them involve a device worn while sleeping which enables air to circulate through a patient’s respiratory system. One of these machines is a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for “continuous positive airway pressure” which accurately describes what the machine does. CPAP machines consist of an air compressor which circulates the air, a mask which goes on the patients face, and a hose which connects the compressor to the mask. When turned on, the compressor circulates air through the mask. This keeps the airways open by keeping a continual flow of air going through the airways.

There is some variation available in the CPAP machines on the market. There are slight variations in the main compressor unit including units that can be used internationally, and ones that come with a 12 volt cigarette adapter. There are also some variations on the mask. Depending on the size and shape of the patient’s head certain straps will fit better than others. There are also cloth CPAP masks which have cloth over the front instead of the common hard plastic.

Question Your Doctor if you reckon You Might Have Sleep Apnea

If you reckon you may have sleep apnea, your primary care physician should be told. Your physician is most qualified to determine what the best course of action would be. If you already have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are a number of options for treatment. Even if you already have a CPAP machine there are other replacement CPAP masks you can use for greater comfort. So regardless of your situation, there is a solution for better sleep.

Ease Your Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be a very serious disorder. Breathing repeatedly stops and starts through out the sleeping cycle. It occurs in two main types; obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common form and happens when the throat muscles relax. Central sleep apnea happens when your brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both types.

Symptoms of sleep apnea are very similar for all types. This makes it really hard to diagnose the disorder. The most common symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headache, insomnia, dry mouth or sore throat, awakening due to shortness of breath, and loud snoring. Loud snoring is most common in obstructive sleep apnea.

It is recommended to see a doctor if your symptoms are snoring loud enough to disturb others sleep or your own, shortness of breath that awakes you, pauses in breath during sleep, and excessive drowsiness. These symptoms are serious and need to be addressed.

The muscles that relax in the back of the throat support a soft palate, the uvula, the tonsils, and the tongue. When the muscles relax, airways narrow and close as you breathe in. this causes breathing to momentarily stop. This can lower the level of oxygen in your blood; the brain senses the inability to breathe and briefly wakes you from sleep to open the airways again. Normally it is so brief that the person does not remember awakening in the night. People with obstructive sleep apnea are not aware of awakening or other symptoms and tend to reckon that they sleep well at night.

When the brain fails to send signals to your breathing muscles is central sleep apnea. Awakening with shortness of breath or having a hard time getting or staying to sleep is very common. Heart disease is the most common cause of central of it, and stroke as well. People who have this disorder are more likely to remember there awakening in the night.

People with complex sleep apnea have obstructed airways similar to those with obstructive sleep apnea. There is a problem with the rhythm of breathing and occasional lapses of breathing that are small. People of all ages can get sleep apnea, male or female, ancient or young.

There are many complications with this disorder. The cardiovascular system can become very strained and cause a high risk for hypertension and hypoxemia. This risk of stroke is also increased. Fatigue is a fantastic complication caused by it, severe day time drowsiness and irritability can occur as well as difficulty concentrating and you may find yourself falling asleep in places like work or driving in the car. Many partners of people who have this disorder are also sleep deprived. It is not uncommon for it to cause problems in relationships.

There are things you can do to relieve the symptoms and help you and your partner get better nights sleep. Snoring and Sleep Apnea Eze by Bell is a product designed to provide relief from the discomfort caused by snoring and sleep apnea. It will allow someone to sleep through the entire night undisturbed. It have all natural ingredients so it is perfectly safe to use regularly.

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