Like many of the words in the Indo-European pantheon, the word originated in Greece. Some say it means "to breath", while other sources claim it means "without breath". The latter is closer to what occurs in someone who suffers from sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea: The Causes

There are two types of sleep apnea-one is obstructive sleep apnea and the other is central sleep apnea. The first, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs when the muscles in the throat relax. This results in the airway tightening and causes the breathing to stop. The brain then sends signals to wake you up and begin the breathing process again. Many people with this type of sleep apnea are not even aware that their sleep is being interrupted at night.

In some cases the brain doesn't send a signal to wake you up when the muscles in your throat tighten up and prevent air from reaching your luings. This is called Central Sleep Apnea. Your may wake up and remember later that you woke up. In obstructive sleep apnea, most people are never aware that they woke up and do not know that they have sleep apnea. In some cases, individuals can have a combination of the two conditions called mixed sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can cause additional complications, as every time a person stops breathing there is a decrease in the oxygen to the brain and body. This can result in problems within the cardiovascular system.

Men are less prone to sleep apnea than women as we get older.

Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea

Individuals with sleep apnea are not getting a good night's sleep. They may wake up over 100 times every night and never be aware of it. One marker to remember for sleep apnea is very loud snoring. It is so loud, some would say that it could wake the dead. Another complaint found among the sufferes of sleep apnea is that they are fatigued and drowsy call day. Some may experience headaches and sore throats in the morning.

If any of these symptoms seem to be a common problem, a conversation with a physician is imperative. Do it pronto.. A physician can set up further testing to determine if this is what is happening and suggest some treatment protocols to help with the situation.

Well, my friends, that is the story on sleep apnea. Not a very pleasant situation, by any stretch of the imagination. Very bleak, to say the least. Remember, this is serious. Over one million individuals die from this condition every year. It is not a benign problems. If you think you have trouble sleeping, it needs to be taken care of immediately. Don't procrastinate. Do it now. Get help. It's a very treatable condition.

It is effective.