How to Prevent Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that disrupts the affected person's sleep patterns. The affected patient oscillates between deep sleep and light sleep, and consequently, experiences shallow and uneven breathing.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common type of sleep apnea. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airways of the affected person become obstructed or blocked during their sleep, causing their breathing to pause momentarily. This shallow breathing can result in loud snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is more commonly found in, although not isolated to, obese persons. Another form of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, is frequently found in people taking certain high-risk medications.

As there are no tests for detecting sleep apnea, it often goes unnoticed. But, the most common symptoms of sleep apnea experienced by an affected person are dry mouth, sore throat, morning headaches, memory lapses, moodiness, difficulty in concentrating, and frequently disrupted sleep. If a person experiences any of the above symptoms, he or she should contact a sleep specialist. Although medication is not a usual course of treatment for sleep apnea, basic lifestyle changes and the use of breathing devices can help reduce effects of the condition.

For more information on sleep apnea, see below:

What Is Snoring?

How Much Sleep Do I Need?

5 Sleep Improvement Devices