Sleep Apnea Research Paper

Sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder where a person has experiences of not breathing during sleep. Over 20 million Americans, mostly overweight men, suffer from sleep apnea. Despite these numbers, sleep apnea is often not treated directly because its symptoms are thought to be those of depression, stress, or just loud snoring. There may be a genetic component to this disorder as it often occurs within families.People with sleep apnea stop breathing for at least 10 seconds at a time; these short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, yet under recognized condition. It is estimated that some form of OSA affects approximately 17% of the adult population. Over the years, this number has consistently increased possibly secondary to the rising prevalence of obesity in the population [1]. The pathophysiology of OSA is postulated to be related to decreased parasympathetic activity during sleep, leading to decreased muscle tone in the upper airway, which can lead to repetitive collapse of the upper airway, causing the characteristic apneic or hypopneic events that define the diagnosis of OSA [2].

OSA is considered a universally recognized sleep-related breathing disorder (Badran et al., 2015; Franklin & Lindberg,2015; Hla et al., 2015; Heinzer et al., 2015; Jun, Chopra & Schwartz, 2015; Maeder, Schoch, & Rickli, 2016). The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project (2014), reports OSA currently burdens nearly 25 million adults in the United States (as cited in American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2014). OSA is identified by recurrent pauses in breathing (apnea) of greater than 10 seconds or reduction in

There are many people who struggle to sleep at night. One reason that they might struggle is because of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is defined as “a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep” (Medicine Net; Nov. 2105). With the help of many types, treatment, medication, and devices changes your lifestyle Can help with sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is characterized in a similar manner to hypopnea, a lack of airflow and oxygen levels at night whilst sleeping. However there are some key differences. Sleep hypopnea is a part of the obstructive sleep apnea family, and therefore has to deal with any obstructions that occur in the airways whilst sleeping (Phillips, 2015). Central sleep apnea, is another type of sleep apnea that can occur in people. This apnea is very different from obstructive sleep apnea. This apnea is caused because the brain temporarily fails to signal to the muscles that are in charge of controlled breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is referred to as a mechanical problem, whereas central sleep apnea is referred to as a communication problem (Phillips, 2015). Central sleep apnea is much less common than obstructive sleep apnea and it can be caused by medical conditions that affect the brainstem. The symptoms of central sleep apnea are very similar to obstructive sleep apnea: stopping breathing or irregular breathing during sleep, shortness of breath leading to awakenings, chronic fatigue, excessive daytime drowsiness, morning headaches, poor/restless sleep, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and snoring (Phillips, 2015). The treatment for central sleep apnea is by using a CPAP machine or a BPAP machine (which is very similar to a CPAP), certain medications have also been known to help stimulate proper breathing whilst sleeping (Phillips, 2015). Finally, the last kind of sleep apnea that can occur is complex sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea is a mixture of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Essentially, this type of apnea occurs because of slight obstruction and the brain failing to properly inform the muscles to breathe (Phillip, 2015). BPAP machines and Adaptive servo ventilators “have shown successful use as the machines are capable of performing a

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. It is characterized by repeated cessation of breathing while sleeping, due mostly to complete or partial pharyngeal obstruction. Objectively, it is recognized by a combination of symptoms and laboratory results. These include repetitive apneas and hypopneas, which are accompanied by hypoxia, sleep arousals, and hemodynamic changes.9–12 Moreover, activation of the sympathetic nervous system during respiratory events potentiates vasoconstriction and often triggers increases in blood pressure and heart rate.10,13 Obstructive sleep apnea is also associated with several cardiorespiratory problems (e.g., loud snoring, loud gasps, and daytime breathlessness).14,15

Getting restful sleep is vital. During sleep, blood pressure and body temperature changes, while respiration and heart rate decreases. Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is defined by repeated interruptions in breathing and / or reduced respiratory flow during sleep. The most common symptoms include difficulty breathing, snoring, restless sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent headaches, enlarged tonsils and large tongue volume, and irritability. Sleep apnea can be mild, moderate or severe. If it's left untreated, sleeping apnea may lead to diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity or depression. One common treatment is the use of sleep apnea devices.

Apnea is a greek word meaning “no breath”. When you sleep and experience a complete collapse of the upper airway caused by relaxation of the muscles controlling the soft palate and tongue you have an apnea or a total cessation of air flow in the throat.

Sleep apnea, or cessation of breathing in your sleep disorder from which affects large numbers of people, and that in that many are not aware of. Night apnea in adults is easily recognized by its strong and loud snoring, a person is in the morning after waking often feel exhausted, worn out and run down, and even to sleep for the whole 8 hours.

Sleep apnea is categorize into two different groups; Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is caused by cessations in air flow without respiratory effort. The CSA cases are extremely rare and often are mixed with Obstructive sleep apnea [1]. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the occasional interruption of breathing during sleep as a result of periodic airway blockage. It is more common in middle-aged adults and preschool children [2]. Obstructive sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition and millions suffer from OSA worldwide. Complications may include: hypertension, heart failure, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and stroke [3].

Since the dawn of time humans, for some reason or another has had difficulty with sleep. The cause could vary from the rock pillow was too hard to a pea under the mattress. We have now come to learn that a disorder called sleep apnea could be the reason. According to the National Institutes of Health approximately 12 million United States citizens were afflicted by this disorder (Singer). The Greek word Apnea means without breath and sleep apnea is an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while a person is asleep (American Sleep Apnea Association). There are three different types of sleep apnea, when the back of the throat closes called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), for Central Sleep Apnea the brain “forgets” to signal muscles to

​Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway in the throat close repeatedly during sleep disrupting the person’s normal sleep cycle. It causes apneas, arousals, and loud snoring. In contrast to central sleep apnea, OSA is commonly recognized by an individual’s bed partner. However, the most conclusive method of diagnosing OSA is clinical evaluation and overnight polysomnography studies.5 OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea in the ESRD population.2

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form between both sleep apneas. OSA occurs when the upper airway collapse during sleep. Collapse of the upper airway may cause decreases in ventilation, but not complete cessation of it, with desaturation and arousal (hypopnea) and/or complete cessation of airflow for more than 10 seconds entitled apnea (Figure 1) 1. Common symptoms of OSA are frequent arousal, snoring, choking/gasping, daytime sleepiness, increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood (hypercapnea), and a decrease of oxygen level in the body (hypoxia). As stated before, OSA is more common in men than in women. Other factors that influence OSA are those with an increased body mass index, thick neck/circumference, small erythematous oropharynx, position of body during sleep (most commonly the supine position), medication, alcohol, or pre-existing cardiac complications2. Usually, OSA is diagnosed by a sleep doctor monitoring the patient during a polysomnography (sleep study). Having a sleep study done is the gold standard diagnostic for assessing sleep-disordered breathing. There is monitoring of the airflow of the nose and mouth, end tidal CO2, the patient’s sleep state by electroencephalography, movement of the chest and abdomen, pulse oximetry, and blood pressure. “The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)—the number of obstructive events per hour—is the most commonly used measurement to quantify OSA: mild OSA = 5 to 15 events/hour; moderate = 15 to 30

Sleep apnea is usually a chronic condition that disrupts ones sleep. [3] It entails pauses in breathing

Apnea is a Greek word that means without wind or breath, which also translates to insufficient air going down into the lungs. This usually happens in children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids. When they go to sleep and their muscles relax, including those in the throat, the relaxed muscles may cause narrowing of the airway, reducing airflow. If the throat is completely obstructed, a child could stop breathing temporarily.