Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Weight Issue That Affects Sleeping
Sleep apnea is the condition that describes pauses in breathing
during sleep. These are defined by medical terminology when
an individual literally stops breathing.
Generally, there are two types of apneas Central and Obstructive.
This is quite a common problem among the morbidly obese which
requires them to wear an oxygen mask so they can breathe properly
since that's due in part of their weight bearing down on their
chest crushing their rib cage and lungs.
According to medical reports the population at risk is obese
middle-aged males since physiology doesn't make women potential
sufferers of sleep apnea. The problem is that people who do
fall asleep due to sleep apnea will go through brief periods
where they think that they're not going to wake up.
You need to know that this is very serious because if it's
not properly diagnosed, it can be life threatening. People
who suffer from excessive weight usually morbidly obese continually
have to deal with frequent episodes of paused breathing. Snoring
is a common problem with the morbidly obese and constant gasping
for air while sleeping is another problem. Obstructive sleep
apnea can be fatal to the heart because it's prolonging and
deprivation of oxygen to keep the circulation flowing efficiently.
Other symptoms which are deemed non-specific are such as
headaches, irritability, moodiness, difficulty concentrating,
Noctoria, which means getting up in the middle of the night
to urinate, increased urination, decreased sexual drive, increased
heart rate, anxiety, depression, esophageal reflux (acid reflux
disease), and bountiful heavy sweating at night.
Sleep apnea has also been related to congestive and congenital
heart failure usually found in people who are diagnosed as
morbidly obese due to the excessive weight on them. This is
from severe and prolonged cases, which means the individuals
were not being treated and had let the condition get to the
point that it's no longer treatable.
The treatment will take into account of an individual's medical
history, seriousness of the disorder, and the specific cause
for the obstruction. Some treatments also include a lifestyle
change, avoiding alcohol and medications which can relax the
nervous system.
Other lifestyle modifications include losing weight and quitting
smoking, and incorporate things like uplifting themselves
while sleeping so that they can breathe using slanted pillows.
The weight issue is the biggest lifestyle concern because
that causes some people to be confined to beds where they
can't move and be active contributing further into a person's
weight gain.
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