I am really scared to sleep cause of sleep apnea?!
Question: I am really scared to sleep cause of sleep apnea!?
i hear sleep apnea can be dangerous and i am a GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) sufferer, a heard it is a very small chance it can kill you during your sleep with it's symptoms of pausing breath, but i hear your brain wakes you up to alert you from danger and to get your breath back, is that true!?, but i don't get that problem during the night waking up gasping for breath but i don't know if i snore loudly but i seem to be really worried about this and it is giving me lack of sleep thinking if i do have it or notWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
If you are really worried about it, talk to your doctor about having a sleep study done!. From what you are saying though, it doesn't sound like you have sleep apnea!. I have a friend who just had a sleep study done, he had snored EXTREMELY loudly for years and woke up gasping for breath several times each night!. The study showed that he held his breath for up to 90 seconds at a time, and the oxygen levels to his brain were around 75%!. But they just put him on a sleep machine which keeps oxygen flowing!. They never said he was in danger of dying, it's just not good to go without oxygen!. I realize that your disorder probably contributes to your anxiety about this, but I don't think you have sleep apnea!. If you really would like some peace of mind, though, have a sleep study done, and they will tell you whether you hold your breath and have sleep apnea or not!. If you do, they will help you treat it!. In the meantime, though, don't be afraid to sleep, because you will not die!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Contact your doctor and tell him about your problems and concerns!. He can send you for a sleep test where you will stay overnight and they will monitor your sleep patterns and breathing!. This will determine whether or not you have sleep apnea!. If you do, they will give you a machine (CPAP) to use while sleeping!. If you stop breathing, this machine will force oxygen into your lungs and get you breathing normally again!. Try not to worry so much as this is probably causing much of your problem!. Ask your doctor for medication for your anxiety if you are not already taking anything!. Both my brother and my daughter use the CPAP machine and have seen a great improvement!. Good luck!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Snoring and sleep apnea are not the same thing!. You need to sleep because the consequences of not getting enough sleep are worse than the consequences of sleep apnea!.
If you wake up and feel like you didn't sleep well, or nearly enough, your doctor needs to recommend you for a sleep study!. They make machines (cpap and bipap) that will help you breath while you're asleep, but only they can prescribe it for you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you wake up and feel like you didn't sleep well, or nearly enough, your doctor needs to recommend you for a sleep study!. They make machines (cpap and bipap) that will help you breath while you're asleep, but only they can prescribe it for you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You should really get a CPAP machine!. If you have a true diagnosis of sleep apnea, then you certainly should seek treatment!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Jimmy, try insomnia!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
sounds like you need to be on some medications for that anxiety!. Thee is nothing wrong with you!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Please go see a doctor!. Sleep apnea can kill!. My 16 year old daughter died from sleep apnea and I have recently been diagnosed and wear a cpap machine!. There are also 3 types of apneas!.!. central, obstructive and mixed!.
What is sleep apnea!?
Sleep apnea can be a serious sleep disorder!. People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping!. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night!. If you have sleep apnea, the periods of not breathing may make you wake up from deep sleep!. If you are waking up all night long, you aren't getting enough rest from your sleep!.
There are 2 kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive apnea and central apnea!. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type!. Nine out of 10 people with sleep apnea have this type of apnea!. If you have obstructive apnea, something is blocking the passage or windpipe (called the trachea) that brings air into your body!. When you try to breathe, you can't get enough air because of the blockage!. Your windpipe might be blocked by your tongue, tonsils or uvula (the little piece of flesh that hangs down in the back of your throat)!. It might also be blocked by a large amount of fatty tissue in the throat or even by relaxed throat muscles!.
Central sleep apnea is rare!. This type of sleep apnea is related to the function of the central nervous system!. If you have this type of apnea, the muscles you use to breathe don't get the "go-ahead" signal from your brain!. Either the brain doesn't send the signal, or the signal gets interrupted!.
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Is sleep apnea common!?
Doctors estimate that more than 12 million Americans have sleep apnea!. Men, people who are overweight, or over 40 years old are more likely to have sleep apnea, but it can affect anyone at any age!. If you are interested in meeting other people who have sleep apnea, you can visit the American Sleep Apnea Association's Web site to find the location of a support group near you!.
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How do I know if I have sleep apnea!?
Because some of the symptoms of sleep apnea occur while you're sleeping, the person you sleep with may notice it first!. You, or that person, may notice heavy snoring or long pauses in your breathing during sleep!. Even if you don't remember waking up during the night, you may notice daytime sleepiness (such as falling asleep at work, while driving or when talking), irritability or fatigue!. You may also experience morning headaches, forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex!.
Your doctor can diagnose sleep apnea!. He or she may ask you if you feel tired or sleepy during the day!. Your doctor may also want to know about your bedtime habits and how well you sleep!. Your doctor may ask you to go to a sleep center for a sleep study!. Tests done at the sleep center may reveal which kind of sleep apnea you have!. You may also need to take some equipment home with you to do a sleep study there!.
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Is sleep apnea dangerous!?
Sleep apnea can cause serious problems if it isn't treated!. Your risk of heart disease and stroke is higher if serious sleep apnea goes untreated!. You are also more likely to have traffic accidents if you drive while you're sleepy!. If you have sleep apnea, it is very important to get treatment!.
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Is there anything I can do to help my sleep apnea!?
Yes!. The following steps help many people who have sleep apnea sleep better:
Stop all use of alcohol or sleep medicines!. These relax the muscles in the back of your throat, making it harder for you to breathe!.
If you smoke, quit smoking!.
If you are overweight, lose weight!.
Sleep on your side instead of on your back!.
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How is sleep apnea treated!?
Certain dental devices can be used to treat mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea!. These devices move your jaw forward to make breathing easier!.
A common treatment for sleep apnea is called "continuous positive airway pressure," or CPAP!. In this treatment, you wear a special mask over your nose and mouth while you are sleeping!. The mask will keep your airway open by adding pressure to the air you breathe!. It helps most people who have sleep apnea!.
In very few cases, surgery is necessary to remove tonsils or extra tissue from the throat!.
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Will this problem change my life!?
Actually, sleep apnea may already have affected you more than you know!. Chances are things will improve for you once the diagnosis is made and you start treatment!. Whatever your treatment, remember that you are not alone and help is available!.
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Printer-friendly version
Email this page
Make text bigger
Spanish / Espa?ol
Other Organizations
American Sleep Apnea Association
1424 K Street N!.W!., Suite 302
Washington, DC 20005
202-293-3650
Revolution Health Sleep Community
Return to top
Source
Written by familydoctor!.org editorial staff!.
American Academy of Family Physicians
Www@Answer-Health@Com
What is sleep apnea!?
Sleep apnea can be a serious sleep disorder!. People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping!. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night!. If you have sleep apnea, the periods of not breathing may make you wake up from deep sleep!. If you are waking up all night long, you aren't getting enough rest from your sleep!.
There are 2 kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive apnea and central apnea!. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type!. Nine out of 10 people with sleep apnea have this type of apnea!. If you have obstructive apnea, something is blocking the passage or windpipe (called the trachea) that brings air into your body!. When you try to breathe, you can't get enough air because of the blockage!. Your windpipe might be blocked by your tongue, tonsils or uvula (the little piece of flesh that hangs down in the back of your throat)!. It might also be blocked by a large amount of fatty tissue in the throat or even by relaxed throat muscles!.
Central sleep apnea is rare!. This type of sleep apnea is related to the function of the central nervous system!. If you have this type of apnea, the muscles you use to breathe don't get the "go-ahead" signal from your brain!. Either the brain doesn't send the signal, or the signal gets interrupted!.
Return to top
Is sleep apnea common!?
Doctors estimate that more than 12 million Americans have sleep apnea!. Men, people who are overweight, or over 40 years old are more likely to have sleep apnea, but it can affect anyone at any age!. If you are interested in meeting other people who have sleep apnea, you can visit the American Sleep Apnea Association's Web site to find the location of a support group near you!.
Return to top
How do I know if I have sleep apnea!?
Because some of the symptoms of sleep apnea occur while you're sleeping, the person you sleep with may notice it first!. You, or that person, may notice heavy snoring or long pauses in your breathing during sleep!. Even if you don't remember waking up during the night, you may notice daytime sleepiness (such as falling asleep at work, while driving or when talking), irritability or fatigue!. You may also experience morning headaches, forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex!.
Your doctor can diagnose sleep apnea!. He or she may ask you if you feel tired or sleepy during the day!. Your doctor may also want to know about your bedtime habits and how well you sleep!. Your doctor may ask you to go to a sleep center for a sleep study!. Tests done at the sleep center may reveal which kind of sleep apnea you have!. You may also need to take some equipment home with you to do a sleep study there!.
Return to top
Is sleep apnea dangerous!?
Sleep apnea can cause serious problems if it isn't treated!. Your risk of heart disease and stroke is higher if serious sleep apnea goes untreated!. You are also more likely to have traffic accidents if you drive while you're sleepy!. If you have sleep apnea, it is very important to get treatment!.
Return to top
Is there anything I can do to help my sleep apnea!?
Yes!. The following steps help many people who have sleep apnea sleep better:
Stop all use of alcohol or sleep medicines!. These relax the muscles in the back of your throat, making it harder for you to breathe!.
If you smoke, quit smoking!.
If you are overweight, lose weight!.
Sleep on your side instead of on your back!.
Return to top
How is sleep apnea treated!?
Certain dental devices can be used to treat mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea!. These devices move your jaw forward to make breathing easier!.
A common treatment for sleep apnea is called "continuous positive airway pressure," or CPAP!. In this treatment, you wear a special mask over your nose and mouth while you are sleeping!. The mask will keep your airway open by adding pressure to the air you breathe!. It helps most people who have sleep apnea!.
In very few cases, surgery is necessary to remove tonsils or extra tissue from the throat!.
Return to top
Will this problem change my life!?
Actually, sleep apnea may already have affected you more than you know!. Chances are things will improve for you once the diagnosis is made and you start treatment!. Whatever your treatment, remember that you are not alone and help is available!.
Return to top
Printer-friendly version
Email this page
Make text bigger
Spanish / Espa?ol
Other Organizations
American Sleep Apnea Association
1424 K Street N!.W!., Suite 302
Washington, DC 20005
202-293-3650
Revolution Health Sleep Community
Return to top
Source
Written by familydoctor!.org editorial staff!.
American Academy of Family Physicians
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Ok: If you have a sleep study done, they can diagnose you with it!. I believe (I'm not a doctor) that this "condition" has been around since we've been around!. If you can't afford to go to the doctor then I would suggest you 1-go to bed early and read or do something that makes you relax like watch a little t!.v!. and then go to bed BEFORE you are exhausted!. 2-Make sure your head is flat (no pillow unless you are on your side) 3-stop thinking about it!. There's no sense in worrying about something that you have not been diagnosed with!. If you CERTAIN that you have it by a sense of self - then find a way to get the sleep study done!. They will make you stay awake for 24 hours and arrive at there facilty all tired and ready to sleep!. They hook you up with electrodes which send the impulses made by your own pulses near your temples, forehead etc!.!.!.!. and then you're put in a peaceful environment with a pillow and a blanket and you sleep!. They test you while you're sleeping on how your brain responds to light patterns!.!.!. it's pretty cool!.!.!. then they wake you that way (they leave the bright light right on your face!)
Good luck
Sweet Dreams
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Good luck
Sweet Dreams
Www@Answer-Health@Com