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Sleep Apnea: Its Symptoms and Treatments

Christopher Cameron 2021-05-27 No Comments

Over the past decade, the dilemma of sleep apnea and its possible health consequences have been studied and discussed. Today, it is not uncommon to understand someone with a diagnosis of this specific sleep disorder. My particular case of sleep apnea was diagnosed about twenty years ago, and I have been living with the condition and its treatment ever since. But, then, what I learnt here is that you should know how to use and how to clean your cpap machine. This is common with sleep apnea, as sufferers rarely realize what is going on and are not aware that their breathing is disturbed or they occasionally wake up during the nighttime hours.

Overview of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where there are breaks in the breathing process or breathing is too slow during sleep. The pauses in the breathing process can last from a few seconds to many seconds. In central sleep apnea, a person’s breathing is characterized by low work of breathing. This type comprises less than 1% of sleep apnea cases. In obstructive sleep apnea, which is the type I have, breathing is interrupted by a specific airflow blockage. OSA accounts for 84% of sleep apnea cases. Mixed sleep apnea is a mixture of the two and accounts for the remaining 15% of cases.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

People with sleep apnea can persist for years without being properly identified, and they may be so accustomed to the signs of fatigue and sleepiness that they have no idea there is a problem. Although more common in adults, sleep apnea can also affect children. In addition to daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea can also cause vision problems, decreased stamina, very low blood sugar levels, and slow reaction times, especially when driving a vehicle.

There is also growing evidence that sleep apnea can lead to impaired liver function. If left untreated, a whole host of diseases can develop over time, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems, and stroke. In my particular case, my wife brought some of the indicators to my attention. In addition to the alcoholism that kept her awake at night, she noticed that she seemed to hold her breath for short periods. She was also experiencing periods of great fatigue during the day. This led us to visit our doctor and eventually a sleep specialist.

CPAP Machine as the Best Treatment

Some of the things that contribute to sleep apnea can be addressed as part of possible therapy. For example, losing weight, avoiding alcohol, and learning to sleep on your side instead of your spine can help combat this condition. For moderate to severe cases, the treatment of choice would be the use of a CPAP machine. The opposite end of this tube connects to the CPAP machine, which delivers air. Although the use of a CPAP system is very effective in reducing sleep apnea, many patients find the face mask uncomfortable. This is because it would have to be very individualized to address that person’s specific obstruction issues.…

What Happens With Opioid Withdrawal?

Michael Michaels 2019-10-08 No Comments

People who suffer from severe, acute, and chronic pain are prescribed with opiates to relieve them. These painkillers include oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and others. These medications require a prescription because they can be addictive to people. A person who suddenly stops using opioids without tapering on the dose can develop opioid withdrawal.

What can opioid withdrawal do to your body? Basically, it is the opposite of what a person feels when using opioids.

Tremors

Opiates can make muscles feel relaxed and heavy. That is why a part of opioid withdrawal is tremors and muscle pain. Eventually, these tremors subside over time.

Flu-like Symptoms

You can also develop flu-like symptoms such as fever, body malaise, sweating, and chills. Conventional treatments of these include over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol. Tepid sponging can reduce body temperature through evaporation. You can also increase your oral fluid intake to avoid dehydration due to sweating.

Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea

The number one concern with these symptoms is dehydration. Once you lose water in your body, you also lose electrolytes. These electrolytes need to be balanced because it controls your muscle response and even your heartbeat. Although this could be a normal reaction to your body, the severity of symptoms could vary from one person to the other. You can use rehydration salts to replace the lost electrolytes in our body.

Difficulty Of Sleeping

People who use opiate will feel drowsy all the time. Although this is a common effect, they find it challenging to get a good quality sleep. To improve their sleep, a fixed sleeping schedule should be established.

When Should You Call A Doctor?

It is recommended to consult with your doctor for the right medical management, regular laboratory tests, and diagnostics. Do your symptoms disrupt with your activities of daily living? You might want to talk with your doctor to control the symptoms you’re experiencing. During your consult, also inform your doctor of all the medications you’re taking in order to adjust it accordingly.

Support Groups

Opioid withdrawal is such a challenging and stressful phase to overcome. Symptoms last over a month, and it could be frustrating if you’re going to do it alone. You have to have support from all your loved ones to remind you to achieve your goal. If you are worried about going through these symptoms alone, you can seek comfort in groups like Narcotics Anonymous. You can go through therapies with people who are undergoing the same scenario as yours.…