Could Sleep Apnea Be Making You Feel Chronically Fatigued?

Have you spoken to a number of people lately, who may have mentioned, or eve complained to you-maybe friends, maybe family members. That they have this overwhelming feeling of tiredness that has been plaguing them for some time now. Well I'm sure you most likely heard this tune more than once; from many of the acquaintances that you run into from time to time, on your daily travels.

It's nothing new and can be expected especially given the long hours that make up most our ordinary days. Many leave one job only to go to another. On top of that you have the kids soccer practice the next day to get them to on time. Then there's the PTA meeting you have to attend tomorrow evening at your son or daughters school. And as you well know, that list goes on and on.

I was having a conversation just a few days ago with my personal physician. I had an appointment for a follow up check-up, so while in the office we started talking about the topic of sleep apnea. My doctor went on to say, that he recently saw a patient, who he suspected had sleep apnea. Out of curiosity, I asked him...what makes you think that this patient has sleep apnea. And my Doc told me that he has certain symptoms; that he would like to address further, by way of sleep apnea testing.

He went on to say that he gave the individual a monitor to take home for the night. The device which monitors your heart rate and breathing can determine if you have sleep apnea I soon learned. My doctor continued his conversation, further explaining that If this particular individual, for any period during the night does in fact stops breathing. Than this in turn would indicate to me, that my patient definitely has sleep apnea.

Right away I thought that even my own personal physician was no different than other physicians, who practice medicine. And only was interested in scheduling unnecessary testing to milk the insurance companies. This man holds a job as a cook and after he is finished with this full-time day job, goes to another job.

My doctor went on to tell me that the cook also mentioned to him, that he works a lot and this could contribute to his constant tiredness. But my personal physician, being as thorough as he is, was determined to find out the real truth. Which in the end my doctor ended up being right about this anonymous patient; that he suspected as having obstructive sleep apnea.

Having a deep interest in the field of medicine already, I decided to dig a little deeper; into the topic of sleep apnea. I was very surprised to really learn just how many individuals out there, who do have this condition.

And the list includes not only older individuals, but also many young adults and women as well as men. In fact a friend of mine, who just turned forty years old, told me just about a week ago, that he was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I wasn't surprised, because he is one of those individuals that when you look at them, they kind of make you sleepy. If you know what I am referring to?

Over the past month after doing a little detective work, I've found out that not only my best friend has sleep apnea at forty years of age. But also learned that three others in my local church have this condition as well. In fact two of them been using CPAP machine since they were twenty-four years old and now they are in their mid-forties. So as you can see someone in your family and maybe even your next door neighbor may have this problem.

Sleep apnea is not only a real medical condition, it is also a real problem for those who have to function at a high level, at either their place of work, or in the home. Possibly taking care of an ill child, or elderly parent. Whatever your responsiblility is, whether on or off the job; sleep apnea can make carrying on throughout the day, all the more difficult. And of course the reason being is that your body is robbed of much needed sleep as well as oxygen during what is supposed to be, a normal nights sleep.

Sleep apnea can also lead, or cause other multiple medical conditions and/or illnesses. These other medical conditons may go undetected in early adulthood, But as you get into your late forties, or early fifties high blood pressure and migraine headaches may develop unexpectedly. And it is not always other preciptitating factors, or family history that leads up to these conditons. No sleep apnea is usually a contributing factor to some of the more prevalent disease processes below, which in addition can also make you feel more tired than usual. They are as follows:

• Depression
• High Blood Pressure
• Leg Cramping
• Diabetes
• Neck Pain
• Chronic Back Pain
• Diabetes
• High Cholesterol
• High Triglyceride levels
• Abnormal Heary Rhythms

These are just a few of the many medical conditions that could be a direct cause of a sleep apnea conditon. The good news is that even though this condition is not curable, it is treatable. So you don't have to lose much need sleep if you recently found out you have been diagnosed with this disorder. After being diagnosed with a sleep apnea disorder, by way of sleeping overnight with a small little device- (Please refer to photo at top of page). Your physician will be more readily be able to confirm this disorder in you.

As briefly mentioned earlier in this article, a friend of mine was shipped a CPAP machine, because it was found out from his prior test, that he had stopped breathing forty-four times during the night. His body...heart, lungs and rest of his body, was not getting the oxygenated blood it needs to function properly. He would also wake up often during the night, with either a very fast heart beat, or feel like he was out of breath. Not to mention he never feels rested the next morning upon waking for work. And this is also a person that takes a two hour nap during the day and goes the bed by 10:00 p.m every night.

At forty years of age he also takes medicine for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and bipolar disorder, which is a form of depression. His dad does have similar problems and has been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Today he is still waiting for his CPAP machine, because the technician had made an error in placing the order. Normally it takes no more than a week to receive the machine once shipped. In his case, he will not receive his much needed CPAP until another week and a half.

These machines are usually rented from the companies and most insurance companies do pay for the CPAP rental fees. If you decided to purchase one in the future they are not terribly expensive. A decent machine can be purchased for between $250 to $350. Sometimes it is probably the best avenue to take, so you already have the machine and do not have to worry about returning it in the future.

Besides CPAP machines there are various medications that can be taken in conjunction or alone, to help remedy your sleep apnea disorder. However the CPAP and what is called a mouth insertion device, are the best options for people with sleep apnea disorders. A majority of people take many different medications for a variety of illnesses and I personally feel that adding another medication cannot only lead ot more expense, but also lead to possible contraindications with other medications that they may already be taking.

The mouth insertion device is mouth piece if you will, that looks like one of those chatter boxes that you use during halloween, or as a joke to get a laugh out of a few people at party. People only who manage to have a sense of humor though. This chatter box as I like to call it looks exactly like a replication of your mouth with the lower and upper set of teeth molded within it.

The function of this particular device is to keep the upper and lower teeth, as well as the mouth slightly ajar during the night as you sleep. This way when you are breathing, a constanct source of oxygen is being inhaled into your lungs and you are getting that even exchange of oxygen and not being saturated with too much carbon dioxide, which is also not very good on your cardiovascular system.

The mouth piece is a bit cheaper than the more popular CPAP, however it usually feels more cumbersome and awkward sitting in the mouth of most people overnight. It's bad enough having to wear the the small monitor on your mid-torso overnight along with a pulse ox stuck on your finger and cannular inserted in your nostrils.

It normally takes most people to fall asleep in about a half hour. Wearing this equipment takes some getting used to. So it may in turn take you about an hour longer getting to sleep with this device hooked up to you, for an overnight period. Same goes for the CPAP machine once you receive the device. You will have to get used to wearing the respiratior type mask that fits over your mouth and delivers the fresh oxygenated air into your lungs overnight. So if you do stop breathing multiple times during sleep; a constant source of air is continually being brought into your airway.

Your doctor may or may not suggest a sleep apnea exam, however if he or she does not. Don't be shy always follow-up with them and ask if you could be suffering with this disorder. There are so many other illnesses or medical conditons, that can make you chronically fatigued, besides having sleep apnea. Anemias, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which is difficult to diagnose in itself and a few that I had mentioned in this article already. However your family physician will have to make that final diagnosis for you.

Remember you don't have to always feel tired all of the time; especially if you have been for a long period of time. So go ahead and do yourself that favor and ask your doctor for this exam; that a majority of the health insurances will also cover. It's better knowing than not knowing, if a disorder such as sleep apnea is robbing you of a much needed good nights sleep.