Sleep Apnea Prognosis
The word “apnea” comes from the Greek root meaning, “without breath.” Of the three kinds of sleep apnea - obstructive, central and mixed - obstructive sleep apnea is by far the most common type, affecting approximately twelve million American people yearly. Some individuals suffer from a combination of more than one kind of sleep apnea. The most common symptoms of all three kinds are loud snoring and extreme tiredness during the daytime.
Sleep apnea is most likely to affect men over the age of 40 and those who are overweight or obese. However women can also suffer from sleep apnea and in some cases, children as well. Women past the age of menopause are more likely to develop sleep apnea than younger women.
While there are many different types of treatments aimed at reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea, what is the overall prognosis?
Sleep apnea can be diagnosed after special tests are done and a variety of treatments are tried until one that is effective is found. However, sleep apnea has no known cure and is a progressive condition, which means that it can get worse as a person ages. Sleep apnea is not a disorder that can be brushed aside as a small nuisance. Without proper treatment, it can be threatening. One of its worst symptoms, is that of “excessive daytime sleepiness”. This can be detrimental because it many times will cause sufferers to fall asleep at moments when it can be dangerous (i.e., driving, etc.). It can also cause concentration problems and inattention, which can lead to difficulties at work. Sleep apnea can also increase the risk of stroke as well as TIA’s (or transient ischemic attacks, also known in layman’s terms as “mini-strokes”).
If sleep apnea goes undiagnosed and untreated it can also be connected with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, coronary heart disease, heart attack and heart failure. Also, sleep apnea can cause weight gain, sexual problems (such as impotency and lack of desire), memory problems and headaches. Studies in sleep apnea have shown some promising results. With successful methods of treatment, high blood pressure and incidences of heart disease can be reduced.
Research is ongoing to seek ways to improve the quality of life for sleep apnea sufferers. Presently the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other branches of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct a variety of studies in sleep laboratories at the NIH. Besides the studies, research sponsored by Grants, takes place in hospitals and medical establishments all over the United States. The bulk of the research is concentrated on finding ways to help prevent the onset of sleep apnea as well as ways to treat it effectively. The ultimate goal is to find a way to cure the disease for good. New studies are being undertaken on a consistent basis and there is tremendous potential in regards to the outlook of these studies.
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