ANCSLEEP BLOG

What is Sleep Apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea. (1) Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep. This blockage greatly reduces or completely stops airflow, and is usually accompanied by loud snoring.

(2) Central sleep apnea is a type of sleep apnea that is caused when the brain does not send signals to the respiratory muscles needed to breathe during sleep. This type of sleep apnea is not accompanied by snoring.

Sometimes, a person can have both obstructive and central sleep apneas, which is called (3) complex sleep apnea syndrome.

What is Sleep Apnea?

According to The National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea is defined as “a sleep disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep.”

The three most prevalent types of sleep apnea are:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: The most commonly known type of sleep apnea marked by the relaxation of the throat muscles (accounting for about 85% of all cases)
• Central sleep apnea: A rarer condition wherein the the brain fails to send the correct signals to muscles that control breathing (accounting for less than 1% of cases)
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome: Diagnosed when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea

The Rise of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatments

Chances are, you have a “famous” snorer in your family – a father, grandfather, husband, brother – whose sleep-time perturbations shake the whole house. Maybe you are the famous snorer.

We are so excited to let you know about the latest technology for people with sleep apnea. Ultra-portable, compact, seamlessly integrated and superior quality are just a few of the adjectives used to describe the NEW DreamStation Go by Philips. Anchorage Sleep Center is proud to introduce you to a new portable CPAP machine which delivers on all of the features sleep apnea patients desire in a unit. The just released Philips DreamStation Go hits the sweet spot – size and portability with all the functionality necessary for uncompromised results. Here are some reasons the DreamStation Go is expected to be a big hit with individuals in therapy for sleep apnea.

It’s not surprising that the week of Thanksgiving was chosen as GERD awareness week, especially with our tendency to indulge in a little too much of everything!  GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a common disease that affects millions of Americans.

Your sleep does not have to be a mystery. A sleep study is a reliable, scientific, and painless way to find out why you don't sleep as well as you would like.  It gives you valuable insight into the process of how you sleep. But it doesn't just give you understanding. It can also provide you with answers. With the results, a sleep specialist will be able to develop a plan of treatment to help you finally get the kind of sleep you want and need.

The treat crazed celebration has past and now we are all resetting until the next self indulgent holiday. During this time we can focus on an important month ahead. November is American Diabetes Month. 

The holiday season has arrived! Not only should you be excited, but there is so much to look forward to. Time with family and friends, shopping and traveling are all many things that we take part in during the holiday season. However, for patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), going untreated while traveling can put them in line for serious health consequences, not to mention limiting the enjoyment of their trip. And, let’s face it, sleep apnea doesn’t take a holiday but here are a few quick tips to make traveling with sleep apnea a little less cumbersome.

People with high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes should be screened for sleep apnea, according to recommendations from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Importance of Just Snoring vs Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Chronic, loud snoring may be a bigger personal problem than just a nuisance for other people who have to listen to your nightly nasally noises. In other words, while their sleep might be disrupted, your snoring might be caused by a medical condition called sleep apnea, which can have significant health consequences. Or, maybe you are just a loud, chronic snorer.

Knowing the difference and telltale signs between loud snoring and sleep apnea is important, as identifying the potential problem underlying your chronic snoring is the first step to getting healthy again.