How Sleep Apnea is Treated: Types, Symptoms, and Solutions

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a respiratory disorder characterized by breathing pauses that can happen multiple times night (or even hour) during your sleep, due to blockages in the respiratory airways. It is a serious condition that should be treated as soon as the first symptoms are noticed, as it can lead to heart failure if left untreated. It can progress from mild to severe apnea. Fortunately, it is a condition that can be treated with medical devices like Back2Sleep.

What are the Different Types of Apnea?

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This type of sleep apnea, also called OSA, prevents a balanced and restful sleep. It causes breathing stops lasting from 10 to 30 seconds during your sleep, due to blocked airways. People with this kind of apnea often have insufficient sleep and suffer from a fragile overall health.
• Central Sleep Apnea: Less common than OSA, this type of apnea causes regular breathing pauses. The brain struggles to send a signal to the respiratory system, causing the person to wake up frequently to catch their breath and to experience headaches. Central apnea has severe health consequences.
• Mixed Sleep Apnea: This is a combination of obstructive and central apnea, where the brain fails to signal the respiratory muscles to work, but as soon ast the body attempts to breathe, the airways are blocked. This type of apnea is very difficult to live with and can be exhausting.
• Sleep Hyperventilation Syndrome: This type of apnea often affects overweight individuals. It is characterized by an inability to breathe normally, meaning the amount of air entering the lungs is insufficient. Each person requires a precise amount of oxygen to expel carbon dioxide from the body. When this operation doesn’t happen properly, respiratory dysfunctions occur. Some pharmaceutical products can also cause this syndrome.

What are the Causes and Consequences of this Disease?

• Age:
• For the elderly: Age is a factor that increases the risk of sleep apnea. Older people are often more vulnerable to it, as statistics show that around 30% of people over the age of 60 are affected by this respiratory disorder. As we age, the muscles in the pharynx become loose, which makes it difficult for the airways to remain open during sleep, leading to breathing issues.
• For children: Studies have shown that 80% of young children with sleep apnea have enlarged tonsils, while for older children, smaller tonsils may be the main cause. The jaw size may also affect airway obstructions in children.
• Gender: Men are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women, with estimates showing 4% of men and 2% of women being affected. This could be due to the role women’s hormones play in stimulating the airways. However, during menopause, these hormones decrease, making women more susceptible to apnea. Men’s airways are slightly narrower than women’s, which can create blockages. Alcohol consumption is also a contributing factor.

Sleep apnea has severe consequences on an individual’s life and health. It can lead to a lack of concentration and alertness throughout the day, memory issues, and mood swings. It negatively impacts productivity at work and can even cause premature death or strokes over time.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

• Snoring: Snoring is usually the first symptom indicating sleep apnea. When the airways are blocked, the airflow is disrupted, causing vibrations and that awful loud noise. You should consider seeing a health professional if you suffer from snoring.
• Restless sleep: People with sleep apnea have disturbed and often interrupted sleep, preventing them from sleeping properly. This causes agitation and anxiety.
• Breathing difficulties: If your sleep is constantly disrupted, especially at night, this could be a sign of sleep apnea. See your doctor if this is a frequent occurrence.
• Daytime drowsiness: Sleep apnea can affect you during the day, even if you feel like you had enough sleep at night. You may feel the need to sleep and struggle to stay awake, often dozing off unexpectedly.
• Fatigue: Sleep apnea makes you feel like you can never get enough rest, leading to constant fatigue. The lack of sleep exhausts the body.

If you experience most of these symptoms, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

How to Overcome Sleep Apnea?

Back2Sleep is a medical device designed specifically to treat sleep apnea. Made with special materials, it promotes healthy breathing, leading to peaceful sleep. It is gentle on the skin, easy to use, and easy to clean. This product is the ultimate way to overcome sleep apnea. Each box contains two devices and is available in sizes M, S, L, and XL, to fit your measurements perfectly.

If you’re unsure which size fits you, a starter kit is available. Feel free to visit the back2sleep.eu website to order your device.