Good Sleep is a Necessity
You sleep during one third of your lifetime – regular good sleep is a necessity for a healthy life. As an adult, you need to sleep six to nine hours per night. If you do not get enough sleep, you will in long terms risk the recovery of your body – the brain and memory function, immune defence, hormone balance and other vital organs. Are you still tired when waking up after a night's sleep? If so, you may suffer from sleep apnea. If you do, your breathing during sleep can be interrupted hundreds of times each night, usually without you noticing. What is Sleep Apnea? Sleep Apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Most commonly the muscles of the upper airway fail to maintain the airway during sleep. This leads to temporary suspension of breathing, causing “gasping” and partial waking.
Obesity, loss of muscle tone due to age, use of alcohol and other drugs are life-style factors that may contribute to sleep apnea. There are various grave diseases, which can be worsen or even caused by sleep apnea. These include for example cardiavascular diseases, stroke and high blood-pressure. Approximately four percent of the male and two percent of the female population in the world suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea syndrome. The majority of these cases have not yet been diagnosed. What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?You may suffer from sleep apnea if you have the following day time symptoms:- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headache
- Concentration problems and memory loss, especially short term memory
- Behavioural abnormalities, including aggression, shyness and hyperactivity
Typical night time symptoms include: - Loud snoring, accompanied by the characteristic “gasping” during apnea episodes
- Restless sleep and nightmares
- Sweating and enuresis (bed wetting)
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