Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This disorder tends to go unnoticed, and becomes increasingly prevalent in unsuspecting people-especially if they are alone. There are many ways to become aware of these sleeping conditions, as well as treatments that can assist in keeping the risk lowered. By becoming a standard medical procedure, the disorder will retain a more focused treatment as well as gain more recognition as a serious affliction for people that may suffer. With the complications sleep apnea creates in the body, it is important to be informed and develop an awareness for what may lead to more deadly diseases, such as heart disease. The number of casualties caused by sleep …show more content…
Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to give the body the signal to inhale; breathing becomes shallow and eventually stops, causing a patient to wake suddenly. Complex sleep apnea is developed from treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with the use of the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP). This form of the disorder is difficult to diagnose as it is newly recognized, but there are new forms of CPAP machines being developed to treat complex sleep apnea. The most common form of the disorder is obstructive- where the throat muscles relax and block the airway. The restriction of air to the body causes lack of blood flow to the brain, which often results with brain injury. The frequency of the blockage may range from five interruptions in breathing within an hour to thirty breathing interruptions in an hour. Doctors may review medical history in order to have a greater understanding of your symptoms. A healthier lifestyle may be suggested because of the disorder’s link to obesity in adults. As stated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, sleep apnea may be diagnosed based on medical history, a physical examination, as well as a sleep study. Some symptoms will be ruled out because of their frequency in everyday life-such as sleepiness and fatigue, decrease in focus and attention, and