Sleeping next to someone who snores can be quite uncomfortable and irritating. It can make you have sleep interruptions because of the noise. The consequences can be quite devastating because of the strain it puts on relationships. Do you know that the person sn
Sleeping next to someone who snores can be quite uncomfortable and irritating. It can make you have sleep interruptions because of the noise. The consequences can be quite devastating because of the strain it puts on relationships. Do you know that the person snoring next to you could be suffering from a serious underlying condition called sleep apnea?
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where someone temporarily and frequently stops or reduces breathing during sleep. The pauses in breath can last between 5 and 30 seconds in mild cases but can take over a minute in severe cases. The frequent sleep interruptions limit the amount of rest that someone gets. One ends up waking in the morning with a headache and usually feel sleepy during the day.
There are two types of the condition, namely, obstructive and central sleep apnea. The former is the most common type of the condition where the airways either collapse or get blocked. Central apnea is less common and occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. Although the condition can occur across all ages, it is more common among individuals who are above 60 years. Several conditions are associated with obstructive sleep apnea. They include:
- Lipid disorders (Dyslipidemia)
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiac arrhythmias
Symptoms of the condition include loud snoring, obesity, gasping for breath during sleep, and an enlarged neck circumference because of fat deposition.
Due to lack of enough sleep at night someone suffering from obstructive sleep apnea can easily feel drowsy, sleepy, or lose concentration while driving and cause accidents. Moreover, sleep apnea contributes to lost working days as people near retirement age.
- Over 936 million people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea worldwide
- Obstructive sleep apnea can cause hypertension
- The Condition can affect all age sets including children but is common in older people.
- Menopause among women increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea
Lipid Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Those battling obstructive sleep apnea usually post elevated levels of LDL-C and triglycerides. The intermittent breathing reduces oxygen supply, which then leads to CO2 accumulation; oxidative stress; inflammation; inactivity of HDL-C; factors that may lead to the development of lipid disorders.
When functioning properly, HDL-C has antioxidant and antiinflammation properties. When oxygen levels are low, the heart must overwork to correct the buildup of carbon dioxide that arises. These changes can spira