Sleep Apnea and Insomnia
Insomnia and sleep apnea are specifically different sleep disorders. Symptoms of insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early and not getting back to sleep, and waking but feeling unrefreshed. There are many causes of insomnia, and there are a number of treatment options available nowadays.
Sleep apnea is a situation where a person stops breathing while sleeping. This situation can be caused by several different things and is usually diagnosed through a sleep clinic study. There are several treatments for a person with sleep apnea. Living with sleep apnea can be scary, but once a person gets treated they should be able to find a treatment that allows them to get on with their life and sleep normal once again.
In a person with sleep apnea the airway can be blocked by tonsils, tissue, the tongue or muscles collapsing. When a person is suffering from sleep apnea they will generally not know. Other people may notice it when they are sleeping and wake the person or tell them they were snoring or making funny noises when they are sleeping.
The symptoms of sleep apnea are extreme tiredness even after what seems to be a good nights sleep. This is because once a person stops breathing they are woken up out of the sleep. They never really do get to enjoy the deep sleep that is required for a good nights rest. They may also snore, have headaches upon waking up, have a dry mouth and also have mood changes.
Sleep apnea can be very dangerous, so it is significant that if a person suspects they may suffer from it that they seek medical help as soon as possible. Sleep apnea may lead to heart disease, stroke and impotence. A doctor will administer a sleep test in a clinic or for the person to do at home either. This test will generally measure the oxygen levels in the person's blood, as well as their sleep patterns.
Once a person is treated with sleep apnea the doctor will usually start to see why exactly the condition is present. The cause of the sleep apnea will actually dictate the treatment. Sometimes if a person loses weight or changes the sleeping positions they can stop their sleep apnea. There are medical devices like mouth guards that can be used. For example, a C-PAP is a machine, which is often used to treat sleep apnea. It blows air into the person's nose and also helps to keep the airway open. In some cases where the cause is a physical deformity, surgery may be the best option.
Sleep apnea is quite easy to treat once a person is diagnosed with the disorder. The diagnosis can be the hardest part of dealing with sleep apnea, since a person is unaware that they are even having problems. However, if a person experiences any of the symptoms of sleep apnea they should confirm that with their doctor and get tested. Letting the condition go without treatment could be dangerous and may lead to long-term illness.