Essay On Sleep Apnea

Snoring is a common disorder that affects millions of people around the world. Even though normal snoring is not dangerous to human health, having repeated breathing stops during the snoring process can be life threatening to the snorer. According to the American Heart Association (2012) study, having repeated breathing stops during the snoring process is dangerous and can result in the development of cardiovascular problems and even death. This condition is known as sleep apnea. In this respect, an individual with sleep apnea experiences repeated breathing stops for as many as thirty times an hour when asleep. Such episodes are dangerous for the snorer since it increases the risk of developing heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, and arrhythmias. Research shows that one in every five people suffers from sleep apnea. America, in particular, has one of the highest incidences of people with this disease. According to Lettieri (2010), about 15 million adults suffer from obstructive sleep apnea in America. The majority of people with sleep apnea are patients with cardiovascular problems and hypertension. As earlier mentioned, this condition is life threatening and require early treatment. This document will examine the historical evidence of the disease, its causes, and its clinical effects on the cardiovascular system, complications, and prognosis. The discourse will also explore the treatments and research associated with the disease.

Historical Evidence

Javaheri, Caref, Chen, Tong, and Abraham (2011) define sleep apnea as a condition characterized by repeated breathing stops in the snoring process. The episode usually occurs as many as 30 times in an hour. Sleep apnea affects one in every five adults. Currently, an estimate...

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...ngs published by the Canadian Medical Association researchers noted about 20% increases in pneumonia cases among patients with sleep apnea as noted by Jilek et al. (2011).

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is a health disorder characterized by repeated breathing stops during sleep. Research shows that 1 in every 5 adults is suffering from sleep apnea. In the U.S., about 15 million adults have the disorder. Sleeping apnea is associated with various complications, including high blood pressure, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, acid influx and adult asthma and car accidents among others. Nevertheless, the disease is treatable using a number of techniques, including behavioral therapy, surgical operations, CPAP, APAP and VPAP among others. Therefore, patients with sleep apnea should seek treatment as soon as possible since the disease is easily manageable if treated early enough.