Waking Up Gasping for Air From Sleep Meaning
Waking up gasping for air is also known as "
sleep apnea" which comes from a Greek word "breathless", it`s a condition in which breathing repeatedly stop and start during sleep.Sleep apnea normally happens as a result of the blockage of the airway( also known as obstructive Apnea), or the inability of the brain to correctly control breathing( also referred to as central Apnea) during sleep. In the case of obstructive Apnea, the brain tries to protect the sleeper by waking he/she up from sleep, but this can lead to unhealthy sleep pattern, restlessness, and may also result to Other diseases.
Statistically, an estimated percentage of 5 to 10 people is affected worldwide.
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| Andrea Piacquadio | pexel |
What are the causes of sleep Apnea?
The cause of sleep Apnea is determined by various factors; how it happens, why it happens. There are also evidences that it may run in families.
These includes;
Relaxing of the muscle of the neck and head while sleeping
This is the most common cause of sleep Apnea. When this happens the tissues surrounding the head and neck press hard on the windpipe, obstructing the entering of air through it(windpipe). This condition is known as obstructive sleep Apnea.
The inability of the brain to send signals to breathing related muscles
under a normal circumstances, the brain controls breathing at all times, even while we sleep, Peradventure the fails to send reflex signal to the muscles that are concerned with breathing, sleep Apnea happens.
The inability of the brain to send signals to breathing related muscles can be as a result of various factors,
These includes;
- Nervous system damage
- Heart failure
- Low blood oxygen level
- Diseases ( such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS)
What are the risk factors of having sleep Apnea?
- Obesity
- Family history of sleep Apnea
- Smoking or using nicotine products
- Making use of sedative
- Drinking alcohol
- Getting older
- Nasal congestion/cough
- Certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, insomnia, hormonal disorder, cancer
- Having thicker neck circumference
- Heart disorder
- Stroke
- Lung disease
- Brain tumor
The symptoms of sleep Apnea overlap sometimes, making it too difficult to conclude which type an individual has.
The most common symptoms of sleep Apnea are;
- Headache
- Restlessness after sleep
- Waking up from a sleep with dry mouth
- Loud snoring
- Finding it difficult to sleep(insomnia)
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Repeatedly waking up in the middle of a sleep
What should I do if I have sleep Apnea?
The treatment of sleep Apnea depends on it severity, the type or the cause of it.
There are several ways in which sleep Apnea can be managed or normalized,
These includes;
Healthy lifestyle: healthy lifestyle such as reducing the consumption of alcohol, eating heart healthy foods such as vegetables oil and fat, quitting smoking and other related habits, not sleeping on your back.
Surgery: in cases of tighten airway, tissues or muscles, surgeries can be carried out to widen the breathing related muscles, and can also be used to remove excess fat, muscles or enlarged tissues, allowing the free flow of air .
Medications such as zolpidem, acetazolamide, triazolam may help with sleep Apnea. In this case, a sleep specialist should have been consulted, then the above drugs can be taken, based on the symptoms and severity.
Keynotes on Sleep Apnea
- It's a common sleep disorder
- It's a condition whereby people stop breathing during sleep, this can be as a result of the brain not sending signals to the muscles associated with breathing.
- Sleep Apnea can also occur when air could not enter the airway as a result of tightened muscles or tissues related to breathing.