about sleep apneawhat is sleep apnea? |
what is sleep apnea?Apnea is clinically defined as the cessation of breathing for ten seconds or longer during sleep. As one sleeps, the throat muscles relax and the airway narrows. Individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are predisposed for more significant narrowing which can lead to complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. In response to a lack of airflow, or an apneic event, the body will unconsciously arouse the individual in order to restore muscle tone to the airway tissues... The severity of sleep apnea is determined by the frequency of blockages occurring during sleep:
Based on a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 30 million adults in America suffer from sleep apnea, with 40% of those suffering moderate or severe sleep apnea. A number of recent studies associate sleep apnea with serious medical consequences beyond chronic fatigue. One 2005 study from the New England Journal of Medicine identified sleep apnea as a stronger predictor of death and stroke than diabetes, hypertension or smoking. |
