Sleep apnea is a condition marked by abnormal breathing during sleep.
It can cause lower quality sleep and affect the body's supply of oxygen, leading to potentially serious health consequences.
Because of the disorder's prevalence and potential health impact, it is important for people to be aware of what sleep apnea is and to know its types, symptoms, causes, and treatment.
WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?
A potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.
Risk factors include age and obesity. It's more common in men.
Symptoms include snoring loudly and feeling tired even after a full night's sleep.
Treatment often includes lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and the use of a breathing assistance device at night, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include snoring that is especially loud and feeling tired even after a full night's sleep.
Consult a medical professional if you have, or if your partner observes, the following:
Sleep-related symptoms: excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, nightmares, sleep deprivation, or snoring.
Respiratory symptoms: episodes of absent breathing, breathing through the mouth,or loud breathing.
Some common ones:depression, dry mouth, dry throat, fatigue, headache, irritability, mood swings, or weight gain.
CAUSES
Sleep apnea is a common and serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops for 10 seconds or more during sleep.The disorder results in less oxygen in the blood and can briefly awaken sleepers throughout the night.
The two main types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, happens when there’s a problem with the mechanics of your breathing. Central sleep apnea, or CSA,happens, not because of a mechanical problem, but because your brain doesn’t signal your muscles in the right way.That causes you to stop breathing briefly or to breathe so lightly that you don’t get enough oxygen.
Common Causes of Sleep Apnea: Obesity, large tonsils, heart or kidney failure, unhealthy lifestyle, etc.
YOGA FOR SLEEP APNEA
Pranayama, probably the best-known yogasana, has been known for centuries to benefit in nasal obstructions, sinusitis, and other nasal airway pathologies. Yoga also incorporates a range of asanas and postures that affect the musculature and structures involved in the pathophysiology of snoring and OSA.
According to patanjaleeyoga.com, these are a few yoga poses that also helps in sleep apnea
Bujangasana
Savasana
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Ushtrasana
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Ujjayi pranayama
Simhagrajana
Jalaneti
Although not a direct treatment, Yoga can specifically improve your respiratory strength and encourage oxygen flow. As a result, it reduces the number of sleep interruptions you may experience.
However, if you have it, it is advisable to get treatment from a doctor who can help you find out the reason and the steps to be taken to solve it.
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