Stop My Snores

Looking for information on a sleep study for apnea? Learn as much as you can about sleep to tackle apnea or insomnia.

In most people, REM sleep occurs about every 90 minutes throughout the night (about every 60 minutes in infants). The first REM period of the night is very short, about 5 minutes, the second is about 10 minutes, and the third is about 15 minutes. The final dream of the night usually lasts 30 minutes, but sometimes lasts an hour. Everybody dreams several times each night. If you slept about six hours last night, you can be sure you had about four dreams. Most dreams are forgotten, however, unless you wake up from them.

On the other hand, NREM sleep, the non-dream sleep, comes in two variations-the most frequent type, called stage 2, and the much deeper version, called delta (or stages 3 and 4). There is some thinking during NREM, but it usually is simple and fragmented.

The Transition Phase

There also is a transition phase between waking and sleeping, when some parts of the brain are asleep while others are not. This is called stage 1.

Going to sleep is like going down a stairway. You start going down into stage 1 for half a minute to several minutes, with your thoughts drifting, but you don’t feel asleep. Then you go down the stairway some more to stage 2, and your brain starts putting out waves with characteristic patterns called spindles and K-complexes. Then, you go into deep stage 3 and 4 delta sleep.

Specialists call the time to the end of the first REM the first sleep cycle, and the time from then to the end of the second REM sleep the second cycle. There are four to six cycles per night, depending on how long you sleep. Usually, the changes between stages are gradual, with one stage blending into the next as you gradually move up and down the stairway. In the last part of the night, there usually is no deep delta sleep at all.

5 Stages Of Sleep

Stage 1, although it is called “sleep,” is almost worthless in terms of its recovery value. Researchers continue to debate the value of the other stages of sleep. Delta sleep generally appears to be the main kind that allows the body to recover. People deprived of delta often wake up with a feeling of malaise; though nothing in the body is “broken,” nothing seems to function right. Stage 2 sleep seems to be a less intense form of delta sleep and, like delta sleep, is concerned mainly with body recovery. On the other hand, REM sleep seems to be more involved with mental recovery. If you don’t have REM sleep, it’s harder to make sense out of your life.

These are very fine points still debated among sleep researchers. The important thing is not what stages of sleep you’re having, but the total amount and quality of sleep you get. It is important that you not have much stage 1 sleep and that your sleep be continuous, not fragmented with awakenings. That’s why most sleep clinicians participating in sleep study for apnea, are more concerned that you sleep well than whether the sleep is this or that particular stage.  If you are suffering from sleep deprivation then try Melatrol.  It is the number one, natural, non-addictive, sleep aid on the market today.

Posted December 9, 2008 Comments(0)

You may already know that the term sleep apnea refers to any cessation of breathing during sleep; apnea means a loss of breath and so sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing when asleep. However one of the most dangerous forms of this condition is central sleep apnea, where the body fails to signal the lungs to inhale on a regular basis. When a person doesn’t inhale as they should this means they’re not getting oxygen on a regular cycle as the body needs. This regular cycle of oxygen is so important that the body can and does force itself to breathe even if you consciously try to hold your breath. Central sleep apnea musn’t be ignored.

During periods of central sleep apnea, the heart will respond to this lack of oxygen intake by increasing the heart rate, causing stress and strain to the heart muscles. This is not like increasing your heart rate when you exercise which is good for the body. An increased heart rate during exercise is always accompanied by breathing oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, but not so with central sleep apnea! The heart is having to work harder but it is doing so without oxygen which can be very damaging.

It is thought that seizures can be caused by central sleep apnea. This is caused by the sudden drop in blood oxygen levels, and this occurs whether the person has a seizure disorder or not. Other problems that can arise due to central sleep apnes can include heart attacks and angina. Additionally, the lack of regular breathing that occurs with any form of sleep apnea can result in a buildup of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream which means blood poisoning.

As with all kinds of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea should be investigated as soon as possible. A person that is overweight should endeavor to bring their weight under control. A snore pillow can keep the head from falling back and the tongue from blocking the throat and airway. Having a humidifier in the bedroom is good forkeepig the sinuses clear. In severe cases, especially when dealing with central sleep apnea, a CPAP machine can keep oxygen pumping into the body at regular intervals. This is not something that you should bury your head in the sand about - you have to address the issue!

Posted December 4, 2008 Comments(0)

Getting sleep apnea treatment is crucial for sufferers because this disorder will impact more than just your nocturnal sleep habits. It can leave you feeling lethargic and unable to function normally. Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that requires immediate treatment. Because it is a progressive illness, the symptoms can worsen and eventually lead to other health symptoms and conditions that can be life threatening. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or suspect that you have it, then read on for more information on treatment options and their possible side effects.

There currently is no proven sleep medicine for sleep apnea. However, there are four basic approaches to treatment. Firstly, doctors recommend changing the circumstances which may be causing the apnea. This would include suggesting that the patient lose weight, quit smoking and avoid alcohol and sedative drugs. The sufferer should also get into a regular sleeping schedule and try to sleep only on their side. The second and most common treatment option is in using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in the upper airway to support and hold the airway open. This involves wearing a CPAP mask over the nose. The mask provides a supply of continuously flowing air via a flexible plastic hose from a CPAP machine.

The third treatment option is the use of a dental splint. One of the reasons for the upper airway to become narrowed at night is because the tongue falls posteriorly. Using a dental splint at night prevents the jaw and tongue from moving back. However, oral devices have not proven to be as effective, as CPAP and the appliances can be uncomfortable. The fourth and most extreme form of apnea treatment is surgery. This kind of procedure increases the size of the upper airway. It usually involves removal of the part of the soft palate that hangs down in the back of the throat, as well as the tonsils if present, and other soft tissue if it is felt to be excessive. This procedure is usually reserved for patients with severe sleep apnea.

To diagnose which sleep apnea treatment is best for you, your doctor will evaluate the symptoms you’re experiencing and their severity. If you think that treatment is a nuisance that you don’t want to be bothered with, then consider the alternatives. Apnea can lead to more severe illnesses like depression, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. On the other hand, patients who do undergo treatment report fewer headaches, improved mood, higher energy and improved job performance, as well as a better night of sleep.

Your sleep apnea treatment will have numerous benefits to your overall health if you stick to the plan your doctor has laid out for you. If you do have problems, then speak to your doctor for further sleep apnea support, to see if anything else can be done to make you more comfortable. The benefits of a restful night of sleep will be well worth the effort.

Do not let sleep disorders ruin your health as well as your relationships. Numerous couples have been driven to sleep in bedrooms that are separate because one partner had serious snoring difficulties. A sure sign of a health problem and if it is severe enough, can be life threatening. Some patients must sleep with special breathing machines to push oxygen into their inner lungs. Problems resulting from lack of sleep have the potential to be very serious. If you are an individual that has chronic difficulty sleeping, feel excessively exhausted no matter how many hours of sleep you have gotten or have people complaining in regards to your snoring, you must get the right information. Discover that information by clicking here:

Ways To Cure Insomnia and more information at Ambien For Insomnia and certainly try Sleep Disorder Clinic

Posted December 2, 2008 Comments(0)

I was searching on YouTube today, and came across a good video showing the use of a CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine. The man in the video had actually had major surgery prior in order to cure his obstructive sleep apnea, but the surgery only succeeded in reducing his apnea from extreme to severe. He tells you in this video how it really feels to actually be able to breathe normally again.

This video has the man wearing a full mask, which covers both the nose and the mouth. The mask I use only covers the nose, and I feel is a little less confining. However, if the mouth does come open when using the nose mask, the air from the mask comes immediately out the mouth, and you feel like you cannot breathe at all. Another option, though, is to use the nose mask with a chin strap to hold your mouth closed.

Anyway, here is the video. I hope it gives you some insite into the use of CPAP in treating sleep apnea.

Until next time
Sleep well

Posted November 29, 2008 Comments(0)

Yesterday, I got my CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine from a local medical supply store. While I had underwent a sleep study to determine proper fit and pressure that would be best for me, this store still made sure that the mask fit properly, and that I could deal with the pressure buildup rate that was set.

My prescription was for 15 cmwg (centimeters water gauge), relatively high in the normal band of 2 to 20 cmwg. My CPAP is adjustable, in five minute increments, for how long it takes to build up to the final pressure. I did well with the five minute buildup time, so will probably keep that setting.

Last night, I used the CPAP for the first time at home. My Dalmatian intiially freaked at the sight of me with that strange mask on, but she quickly got used to it, and settled into her normal spot on the bed.

Since I had used the CPAP at my sleep study last month, I felt fairly confident that I would not have problems last night. However, I was mistaken. In the first three hours, I woke up almost on the hour, feeling the pressure against my lips, and being aware that I dare not open my mouth with all that pressure inside. So, after 3 hours, I turned the machine off, and continued my nights sleep without it.

This reaction is not to be unexpected. The man who fit me for the machine told me that it may take a few nights to get comfortable with it, but to keep trying. So, I will start out again tonight using the CPAP, and go from there. I will update this in about a week to let you know if I ever got used to it or not.

Until next time,

Sleep well

Posted November 19, 2008 Comments(0)

Sleep apnea is perhaps the commonest sleep disorder and affects almost 18,000,000 Americans. A sleeping disorder that is characterized by interrupted breathing while sleeping, it is also undoubtedly the most dangerous of all sleeping disorders because it starves the brain of vital oxygen and can occasionally prove to be fatal.

There are two completely distinct types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is in effect a neurological condition where breathing is interrupted as a result of signals sent out by the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is in essence a mechanical problem where the windpipe is blocked either by too much tissue or as a result of the unusual collapse or relaxation of the muscles around the windpipe. In both cases however the results are basically identical with numerous interruptions to normal breathing which starve the brain of oxygen and place the sufferer at greater risk from such things as hypertension, heart attack and stroke.

Unluckily, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove to be difficult as snoring, which is a common symptom and frequently results in sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also commonly seen as a symptom of numerous medical problems. Snoring is certainly generally present with sleep apnea as the brain responds to a drop in oxygen by waking the sufferer enough to restart the breathing process and this often leads to snoring.

This repeated awakening during the night also produces a very poor quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to get up in the morning feeling more tired than when they went to bed. This also results in feelings of sheer exhaustion during the day and a tremendous wish to sleep.

But, tiredness resulting from poor quality sleep is only part of the problem and a range of other symptoms will almost certainly be seen including morning headaches, a lack of memory and a difficulty in concentrating.

Without treatment the increasing exhaustion from sleep apnea can produce serious psychological problems beginning with simple touchiness and progressing to depression with noticeable changes in both behavior and mood.

Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are treatable and, as long as the problem is diagnosed early enough, this treatment is often quite easy. For example, a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea arising out of nasal congestion can normally be treated with nothing more than decongestants. Likewise, many cases of sleep apnea which are not particularly serious may be treated using a mask which is worn while sleeping and that provides air at a constant pressure to keep the airway open. Finally, in the most serious cases of sleep apnea surgery may be required and can be very effective, though it could also result in various complications and has to be approached with care.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember with sleep apnea is that as it carries with it the potentially fatal risk of respiratory failure sufferers should not be tempted to take sleeping pills or to use other forms of sleep enhancers without the approval of a doctor.

Natural sleep remedies without question provide an effective complement to medically prescribed treatments and herbs that are designed to improve the duration and quality of sleep may well be of assistance in the management of the excessive daytime sleepiness usually accompanying sleep apnea. Also, things like aromatherapy, chromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation can help in reducing the insomnia and anxiety which accompany sleep apnea.

Posted November 11, 2008 Comments(1)