Sleep Apnea Treatment La Puente – California

What exactly is sleep apnea?

Do you or a loved one suffer from excessive snoring? If so you probably suffer from sleep apnea a condition that affects millions of people. So exactly what is sleep apnea, what are its causes, how is it treated? These are all questions people have when they have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

To start sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder where the individual literally stops breathing for short periods, a few seconds or so throughout the night while sleeping. It is caused by the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open when you are trying to breathe The term apnea literally means a temporary cessation of breathing, and when your airways are not open while sleeping that is exactly what happens, causing the person to suddenly wake up or to open the mouth and breathe in an effort to get more oxygen. This can be the cause of the snoring sound as you struggle to take in air you breath much harder than what is normal during sleep which in turn can cause the tissue in the throat and mouth to vibrate creating a snorting type sound.

Sleep apnea causes ?

So what exactly causes sleep apnea and what are its symptoms. There are many causes to sleep apnea, according to web MD the most common cause has to do with excessive weight and obesity however these are not the only causes. Additional causes can include enlarged tonsils, a tumor or some other type of obstruction of the airway, even a severe overbite or a small jaw can be the culprit. Those who drink or smoke excessively can also be more inclined to develop sleep apnea.

What are the symptoms and side effects of sleep apnea?

There are several symptoms and side effects of sleep apnea the most common are:

• Excessive loud snoring
• Daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Waking up more than two times throughout the night
• Irritability
• fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Heart failure
• Stroke

Letting sleep apnea go untreated can not only cause a lower quality of life it can also contribute to or be the cause of a premature death. This is why it is so important to know the signs and to seek medical assistance to deal with the problem.