Why Specialized Care for Sleep Apnea is Important

Many people are not aware that they stop breathing for a few seconds while they are asleep. Sometimes, these episodes consist of marked reduction in airflow, brief pauses in breathing that may last at least ten seconds, or complete stops in breathing for short periods. This condition is better known as sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that is common among adults and frequently results in a significant reduction in blood oxygenation.

Specialized Care for Sleep Apnea

Affected individuals are often not aware of their condition, but their bed partner, spouse or room mates may notice that they snore loudly, stop breathing for short periods, gasp for air, suddenly wake up and fall back to sleep. Symptoms that may provide clues to sleep apnea include daytime sleepiness, restlessness, fatigue, headaches, poor memory, and waking up with a dry throat.

It is important for people with sleep apnea to be diagnosed and treated properly to avoid its complications. These include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and even death. Excessive daytime sleepiness can also put their life in danger because of their increased risk for accidents at work or while driving.

Whilemany people are unaware or take their condition for granted, some people take steps to receive treatments for sleep apnea to improve their health. There are many ways to treat airway obstruction, including medical and surgical options, but studies show that receiving specialized care from board-certified physicians and accredited centers for treatment of sleep apnea is associated with better outcomes.

Many experts believe that the most effective therapy for sleep apnea is using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), in which the patients wears a mask over his nose/mouth wh...

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...elp them get treatment for sleep apnea because of its potential complications.

Studies show that patients who receive specialized care from doctors who are trained and certified to treat sleep apnea obtain the best results. This is especially important for patients suffering from severe apnea during sleep. If you are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea or if you know anyone who does, seek medical help and avoid the complications of a condition that is easily treatable, but potentially fatal if ignored.

Works Cited

American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "Specialized care improves treatment outcomes in patients with sleep apnea." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140314212224.htm

WebMD. Sleep Apnea.http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea-treatments

MedicineNet. Sleep Apnea. http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/article.htm