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Sleep Disorders - Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a very common sleep disorder, especially among men over the age of 40, and can be serious enough to threaten lives. With sleep apnea, breathing during sleep pauses, usually for about 15 seconds, but sometimes more. These pauses often occur about 25 times or more over the course of an hour.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of this disorder. With obstructive sleep apnea, not enough air gets to the lungs. This causes blood oxygen levels to drop. Then normal breathing usually resumes, but with a very loud snoring sound.

This often wakes up the sufferer and/or his or her partner. Because of this, and the potential for fatal episodes, it is very important that sufferers get treated for sleep apnea.

Treatments include:

Behavioral changes - these include losing weight, avoiding alcohol, tobacco and sleeping aides, and changing sleeping position.

Mechanical devices - this includes use of a continuous positive airway pressure device, which fits over your mouth and uses air pressure to push your tongue forward and keep your throat open, thereby preventing apnea incidents and snoring.

Surgery: surgery including laser surgery, removal of tonsils, straightening of a deviated septum and trimming of the soft palate can be used to treat sleep apnea.

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