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Two Diagnoses for One Disorder: Sleep Apnea

April 16, 2011 on 1:12 pm | In cpap | No Comments

There are two distinctive types of sleep apnea: the most common type is called ‘obstructive,’ and is caused by the throat muscles relaxing, the second type is called ‘central’ sleep apnea, which is caused by the brain not sending normal signals to the breathing muscles. It is possible for some to experience a combination of central and obstructive symptoms, a condition referred to as ‘complex.’

Several factors go into diagnosing sleep apnea, and you should always consult your doctor with any questions. Waking up excessively tired with constant fatigue during the day can be a sign of this disorder. Snoring, dry mouth, sore throats, and insomnia are also other common symptoms.

Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, is caused by muscles located in the back of the throat that relax. When this occurs the airway becomes narrow or completely closes with inhaling, and breathing stops for a moment, causing the blood oxygen level to decrease. When the brain reacts to the inability to breathe, it will quickly awaken the person so they can open the airway. When this happens it usually is so fast that the person will not remember what happened, but might make a choking noise during sleep.

The most effective method of treatment is the use of continuous positive airway pressure using CPAP machines. Before sleep, a CPAP mask is placed over the nose, and the machine keeps the upper airway open, relieving snoring and other symptoms of the disorder. Although some users are intimidated by the masks at first, they are generally comfortable to wear as they have adjustable straps and different models to optimize comfort.