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Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. The main types of sleep apnea are: - Obstructive sleep apnea: the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax - Central sleep apnea: which occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing - Complex sleep apnea syndrome: also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, which occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
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The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine the type of apnea. The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include: - Loud snoring - Episodes of stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person - Gasping for air during sleep - Awakening with a dry mouth - Morning headache - Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia) - Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) - Difficulty paying attention while awake - Irritability
An evaluation often involves overnight monitoring at a sleep center of breathing and other body functions during sleep. Home sleep testing also might be an option. Tests to detect sleep apnea include: - Nocturnal polysomnography: During this test, equipment that monitors the heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels are connected to the body while sleeping. - Home sleep tests: simple tests to be used at home to diagnose sleep apnea. These tests usually measure heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns. If the results are abnormal, doctors might be able to prescribe a therapy without further testing. Portable monitoring devices don't detect all cases of sleep apnea, however, so doctors might still recommend polysomnography even if initial results are normal.
For milder cases of sleep apnea, doctors may recommend only lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If there are nasal allergies, doctors will recommend treatment for the allergies. If these measures don't improve signs and symptoms or if the apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments are available.Certain devices can help open up a blocked airway. In other cases, surgery might be necessary. - Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): A machine that delivers air pressure through a mask while sleeping. - Oral appliances: Another option is wearing an oral appliance designed to keep the throat open. - Supplemental oxygen: Using supplemental oxygen while sleeping might be helpful for central sleep apnea - Surgery: Usually only an option after other treatments have failed. Generally, at least a three-month trial of other treatment options is suggested before considering surgery. However, for a small number of people with certain jaw structure problems, it's a good first option.
☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike
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I was diagnosed with postnatal depression when my daughter was about 2 months old and after she was forcibly adopted when she was between 6 months old and 8 months old, she's 22 years old now, I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I was diagnosed with PCOS in either 2014/15 and that took years to be diagnosed with. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was in high school. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2022, high blood pressure in February 23. I was also diagnosed with the start of a cataract in either my left eye earlier this year and my **sleep apnea** diagnosis was on the 30th of September this year.
Me too Hun as I was shocked when I was diagnosed with **sleep apnea** last Monday. I'm still trying to get my head around it.
Living with Sleep Apnea and Multiple Health Conditions
The user is expressing frustration and anxiety about their recent sleep study. They are already using a CPAP for **sleep apnea**, but they feel it's not helping much. During the sleep study, they were made to sleep without their CPAP machine, which has caused them concern. They are worried that the results might indicate they don't need a CPAP anymore, which they fear will make their fatigue worse. They have reached out to their doctor but haven't received a response yet. They are anxiously waiting for the results of the sleep study and are seeking advice or shared experiences from others who have undergone similar situations.
Struggling with CPAP for Sleep Apnea Relief
I am on Duloxetine 70mg. Recently l went off them because l was going through alot it was about 3mts. I was in a bad way and my sister and friend suggested l try them again ... l did within hours my mood lifted until l can find a natural product lm staying on them. U can take 2xday if Ur doc will let u Depression is a chemical imbalance (l believe) lve had it all my life. I was tested for MYHFR many years ago and found l had both mutations l don't absorb VitB and Folate...having MTHFR u can read what symptoms u can have. Mine are Depression ADHD **Sleep Apnoea** Understanding what causes it helps Meditation is fabulous
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