The Genetic Predisposition for Sleep Apnea
Sleep is the single most common form of human behavior and you will spend a third of your life doing it. Sleep is an active state, generated with the brain, not a mere absence of consciousness (Martin 463). The dictionary defines sleep as "The natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored" (Merriam-Webster). If one is waking up on an average of 400 times per night, the chances of complete body restoration are minimal. The Greek word apnea literally means "without breath".
An estimated 30 million Americans stop breathing during their sleep sometimes 30-40 times per hour and often for a minute or longer each time. Of these, about 20 million are in the early stages, and about 10 million have progressed to a level of severity that requires treatment. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, about 38,000 Americans die of sleep disorder related problems each year (Internal Medicine Alert 98).
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a potentially deadly sleep disorder, where the uvula and soft pallet collapse on the back wall of the upper airway causing the cessation of breathing and a drop in blood pressure. The heart’s need for oxygen increases during apnea episodes, when someone stops breathing carbon dioxide slowly builds up in the bloodstream and the oxygen level quickly decreases (Melville 852). Eventually a signal from the brain triggers the body to partially wake up, this action causes blood pressure to increase, breathing then resumes, and the cycle begins again. Once the breathing resumes the oxygen level begins to raise, the heart starts pumping much faster than normal, raising the blood pressure to dangerously high levels. These occurrences night after night increase the risk of damaging small organs and can trigger small strokes.
There are three types of apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most common, caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes. The
An estimated 30 million Americans stop breathing during their sleep sometimes 30-40 times per hour and often for a minute or longer each time. Of these, about 20 million are in the early stages, and about 10 million have progressed to a level of severity that requires treatment. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, about 38,000 Americans die of sleep disorder related problems each year (Internal Medicine Alert 98).
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a potentially deadly sleep disorder, where the uvula and soft pallet collapse on the back wall of the upper airway causing the cessation of breathing and a drop in blood pressure. The heart’s need for oxygen increases during apnea episodes, when someone stops breathing carbon dioxide slowly builds up in the bloodstream and the oxygen level quickly decreases (Melville 852). Eventually a signal from the brain triggers the body to partially wake up, this action causes blood pressure to increase, breathing then resumes, and the cycle begins again. Once the breathing resumes the oxygen level begins to raise, the heart starts pumping much faster than normal, raising the blood pressure to dangerously high levels. These occurrences night after night increase the risk of damaging small organs and can trigger small strokes.
There are three types of apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most common, caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes. The
Cited: Martin, Paul “A Third of Life.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. Suzanne Phelps Chambers Ed.US; Pearson, 2005. 462-70. “Sleep.” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th ed. 2008. Print Brunton, Stephen A. “Sleep Apnea: A Silent Killer” Internal Medicine Alert 163.9 (2009): 98-110.Print. Melville, Sheldon T. “Health effects of obstructive sleep apnea and the effectiveness of continuous positive airways pressure: a systematic review of the research evidence”. BMJ. 1997 Mar 22; 314(7084):852–860. “Apnea.” Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions 8th ed. 2008. Print “Pediatric Sleep Apnea.” www.comprehensivesleepwellnesscenter.com. n.p. Web. n.d. Polotsky,Vsevold Y. MD., Phd.” Sleep Apnea Linked to Progression of Liver Disease” Medical News Today 212.8 (2009): 82-5.Print Thomas, Julia.“Liver Damage Due to Sleep Apnea.” eHow. Demand Media. Web. n.d.