Sleep apnea is when someone involuntarily does not breath during
sleep. It can be either central or obstructive. Central apnea, which is
less common, is when the brain forgets to tell the body to breath.
Obstructive apnea occurs when the muscles or soft tissue in the throat
prevents the normal movement of air. The signs of obstructive sleep
apnea include severe snoring, breath holding, fatigue, and morning
headache.
Sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a sleep study. A sleep study
measures the heart rate, breathing patterns, and brain waves of the
patient while they sleep. It is absolutely essential that this study be
done on anyone suspected of having sleep apnea.
The treatments for sleep apnea include weight loss, avoidence of
sleep depressants (alcohol, sleeping pills, etc), CPAP ( a mask used at
night to keep the airway open), dental repositioning devices, and
surgery.
During normal breathing, air passes through the throat on its way to
the lungs. The air travels past the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, and
tongue. When a person is awake, the muscles in the back of the throat
tighten to hold these structures in place preventing them from
collapsing into the airway. During sleep, these structures can fall
into the airway causing snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with or without tonsillectomy are surgical
procedures designed to circumvent this sleep releated collapse of these
structures. The new Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is a laser
surgical procedure designed to sequentially trim and shorten the palate
preventing or reducing snoring. Its effect on sleep apnea is unproven.
For more information visit: Melatrol Sleep Aid
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