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Sleep Apne An Essential Part Of Everyday Life Essay

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Introduction and Pertinent Anatomy and Physiology: Sleep is an essential part of everyday life. It is one of several components which help keep us alive. However, a significant percentage of the human population has difficulty reaching and maintaining Stage IV within their sleeping patterns, the stage that allows the mind and body to fall into a deep and restorative sleep, known as REM sleep. This is a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, a "serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood" (Sleep Apnea n.d.). Obstructive sleep apnea can be very dangerous if it is not properly detected and treated. Nearly 18 billion Americans today (or 1 out of every 5) have a form of sleep apnea. About 4% of people are undiagnosed (or 1 out of 50). It can occur in all age groups and different sexes. (Sleep Apnea n.d.) What is Sleep Apnea? Apnea means without breathing. In many cases apnea is caused by tissue in the back of one’s throat that collapses. Sleep apnea is an involuntary cession of breathing that occurs during sleep. We have four stages of sleep and the fifth being your REM sleep also know as rapid eye movement. In short stage 1(one) is considered light sleep, stage 2 (two) eye movement stops and the brain waves become slower, in stage 3 (three) brain waves still continue to become slower and considered deep sleep, stage 4 (four) also is called the deep sleep phase, and last REM sleep is when breathing becomes more rapid,

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