Although the serious concern associated with sleep apnea has been outlined by medical researchers, a recent study find a relationship between sleep apnea and heart failure. During sleeping, sleep apnea patients experience bouts of decreased or interrupted breathing. This causes the brain become lack of oxygen and unable to send out the necessary messages to the respiratory muscles to inhale and exhale. As the results, the breath may stop for several seconds to possibly a minute. It could happen several times in the course of a night’s sleep.

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect The Heart?

The main function of heart is to pump enough blood per minute to supply the entire body’s need for oxygen and essential nutrients. In sleep apnea case, the patients breathing is interrupted causes the supply of oxygen is reduced. To overcome this airway obstruction, the heart has to pump harder.

This condition is very dangerous especially for patients who have heart problems. The risk of dying during a sleep apnea episode is greater. A serious damage to major organs and psychological problems may rise, too.

Is There A Solution For This Problem?

Yes, there is. Doctors are now prescribing acetazolamide, which is a mild diuretic and respiratory stimulant. It is taken before going to bed and it has been known to increase oxygen levels and to reduce this sleep problem. Because have enough sleep, the patients become less tired during the daytime and better able to concentrate.

Now, doctor are more aware to the doubling effect that is raised because the relation between heart failure and sleep apnea. Patients who are being treated for heart failure should also consult to doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea being present. Although this kind of sleep problem is very common, so many people don’t realize that they have this disorder.

Tags : sleep apnea and heart failure, congestive heart failure and sleep apnea, sleep apnea and heart problems

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Recently, some researches have been done regarding sleep apnea in singers. It was found that singers who had sleep apnea were just as exhausted during the daytime as non-singers who had sleep apnea. But, the non-singers were more likely to snore than the singers.

This research was performed by Dennis Wolf, Stephen Lo, Drs. Irumee Pai and Azgher Kajieker, of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery, St. George’s Hospital in London. The participant was singers among semi-professionals who sang in choirs and people who did not sing at all.

There were two kinds of scales performed:

A. The Snoring Scale Score

In this scale, the subjects’ height and weight was recorded and in each test subject’s wife, husband or partner rated the sleep apnea patient’s snoring on a severity scale.

Here are the snoring score that partners gave the participants:

1. 0 – never
2. 1 – one night per week
3. 2 – two or three nights per week
4. 3 – four or more nights per week

The score was given based on below situations:

- whether snoring affects the partners’ relationship
- whether snoring causes the non-snoring partner to be tired or irritable
- whether the partners have to sleep in separate rooms because the snoring is so disruptive
- whether the snoring is loud
- Whether, when the partners sleep away from home, the snoring affects people nearby, in hotels, campgrounds, and the like.

If the participants’ score is 5 or more in this research, it was considered severe.

B. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale

The purpose of this scale was to measure whether the singers dozes off or fell asleep during the day. Participants were asked to measure whether under a variety of situations, they had:

- No chance of dozing
- A little chance of dozing
- A fair chance of dozing
- A high chance of dozing

If they got a score of 7 to 8, it is average. Participants who got a score of 9 or higher are suggested to consult a sleep specialist immediately.

Finally, the conclusion of this research is that singing perhaps useful in treating sleep apnea subjects who snore.

Tags : sleep apnea in singers

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Sleep apnea study brochure is a media that provides information about sleep apnea. But, we must aware that not all information contained in study brochures is complete. So, what information should contained in it to be considered complete?

Here are the information should be provided by a good sleep apnea study brochure:

1. Definition and explanation about what sleep apnea is
2. Description about signs of sleep apnea and the consequences of not treating this sleep problem
3. Explanation about its types and what the common symptoms for each type are
4. Provide information about causes of sleep apnea
5. Information that answers the following question : why it must be treated as soon as someone suspect he/she suffer from sleep apnea

6. Contain a basic self-diagnostic test to help us to evaluate our condition
7. Some other conditions associated with sleep apnea such as loud snoring, morning headaches and lack of sleep at night
8. Inform readers how a doctor will decide whether you have this sleep disorder or not and what proper treatment should be taken

With all the information you get from sleep apnea study brochure, it is hoped that you will be able to understand the problem, know how it can be treated and the most important, what action should be taken soon.

Tags : sleep apnea study brochure, sleep apnea health info, sleep apnea study

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