The Destructive Power of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Having issues staying asleep lately? Wake up feeling like you're out of breath, or can't get enough air into your lungs? What you're feeling isn't you going crazy - it's called obstructive sleep apnea, and it's common. You're not alone.

Over 12 million people in the United States alone suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and many don't even know that there is a word for it - they just realize that they have certain symptoms.

What Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is

There isn't anything that keeps your airways open at the base of your tongue. No bone, no cartilage, nothing at all - nothing, that is, but the muscles that line that area.

When we sleep, our muscles relax. What happens to most of us is that our muscles will stay tense enough in our airways to keep the air going in and out of our lungs. This is just how we're made.

For some - those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea - the muscles loosen up far too much for their own. When this happens, your muscles actually collapse on your airway, blocking air flow to your lungs.

This can actually go on for a long time, and happen hundreds - literally hundreds - of times in just one night. You can be without air for a minute, or even longer.

When your body finally realizes that it's not getting the air it needs, it jolts your mind (And your body) awake. Your muscles tighten, and they again hold your airways open.

While this doesn’t seem that important, it can seriously affect your sleep. Without sleeping for long periods of time, your body can't enter its deepest stage. This is the same stage of sleep that makes you feel truly rested.

Without that sleep, you're going to notice a lack of productivity, a general feeling of 'icky-ness', and even a decreased immune system. It's all because your body isn't getting enough sleep.

Am I At Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

No one knows exactly why obstructive sleep apnea happens, but we can tell who it affects, and sometimes, even why.

Being overweight can increase your chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea, because fat can accumulate on the sides of your airways. When your muscles relax, it takes less for the area to collapse entirely.

Taking sleep medication, drinking, smoking, a family history and even muscle relaxants can all increase your risk of experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. It can happen three to four times a night, or even more, depending.

Overall...

Some people don't even notice that they're experiencing obstructive sleep apnea, however frightening that may sound. But the lack of sleep can really hurt your life - knowing that you have obstructive sleep apnea really is the first step to improving your well being.