Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea describe induviduals with severe hypoxemia (lack of oxygen) and hypercapnia (increased carbon dioxide). Central sleep apnea is rare where brain damage stops the signals to the lungs that initiate breathing.

The recommended treatment for sleep apnea by cutting a hole in the neck to insert a breathing tube. This method can save lives but had many side effect including fatal infection. The technology has improved to help this cases over time by sleep clinics on every block touting the new treatment.

On the normal condition, the upper throat muscles help keep our airway open allowing to flow into the lung, and even though these muscles usually relax during sleep, the upper throat remains open enough to let air pass. From the research some people have narrow throats that may completely close when their upper throat muscles relax during sleep. This prevent from getting into their lungs.

The major symptom of sleep apnea are loud snoring, 10 second or longer breathing gaps and labored breathing. Other symptoms are associated with severe daytime sleepiness, such as:

1. Awakening unrefreshed in the morning
2. Falling asleep at inappropriate times
3. Possible depression
4. Memory problems
5. Headaches
6. Personality changes
7. Poor concentration
8. Restless sleep
9. Insomnia
10. Hyperactivity

If you have all or some of the following symptom, you could be experiencing sleep apnea. However, it really struck me that many of these symptoms can be related to stress and overwork and lack of magnesium.

1. Taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep at night.
2. Waking at night and having trouble falling back to sleep.
3. Feeling sleepy during the day and taking short cat naps.
4. Tingling in your legs when you try to fall asleep.
5. Having vivid, dreamlike experiences while falling asleep or dozing.
6. Episodes of sudden muscle weakness when you're angry, fearful, laughing.
7. Feeling as though you can't move when you first wake up.
8. Your legs or arms jerk often during sleep.
9. Needing stimulants, such as caffeine, to stay awake during the day.

If your sleep apnea untreated for long time, you can increase risk of the following diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure
2. Heart Attack
3. Stroke
4. Obesity
5. Diabetes
6. Worsening heart failure
7. Worsening arrhythmias
8. Work related accidents
9. MVAs