Sleep apnea is one of the most commonly seen of all sleep disorders and affects almost 18,000,000 Americans. A sleep disorder that is characterized by interrupted breathing while sleeping, sleep apnea is also without doubt the most dangerous of sleep disorders as it starves the brain of critical oxygen and occasionally proves fatal.

There are two totally distinct forms of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is essentially a neurological condition where breathing is interrupted because of signals sent out by the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea by contrast is essentially a mechanical problem where the windpipe is obstructed either by too much tissue or by the unusual collapse or relaxation of the muscles in and around the windpipe. In either case however the results are effectively identical with frequent interruptions to the breathing that deprive the brain of oxygen and place the sufferer at heightened risk from things like hypertension, heart attack and stroke.

Regrettably, diagnosing sleep apnea can prove a problem as snoring, which is a common symptom and often leads to sleep apnea being referred to as the snoring disease, is also seen as a symptom of several other medical problems. Snoring is certainly generally seen in cases of sleep apnea as the brain responds to a lack of oxygen by waking the sufferer enough to restart the breathing process and this generally causes snoring.

This recurrent awakening throughout the night also produces a poor overall quality of sleep and it is not at all uncommon for sleep apnea sufferers to wake up in the morning feeling more tired than when they got into bed. This also causes feelings of sheer exhaustion during the course of the day and a great wish to sleep.

However, tiredness arising from a poor quality of sleep is merely one part of the picture and a range of other symptoms will also generally be seen including headaches in the morning, forgetfulness and a difficulty in maintaining concentration.

Left untreated the growing exhaustion resulting from sleep apnea can lead to major psychological difficulties starting with simple touchiness and moving on to depression with noticeable changes in behavior and mood.

Both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea can be treated and, provided the problem is diagnosed at an early stage, this treatment can often be fairly simple. For instance, a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea resulting from nasal congestion can commonly be treated with nothing more than a course of decongestants. In the same way, a lot of cases of sleep apnea that are not especially serious can be treated using a mask that is worn while sleeping and that provides air at a constant pressure to keep the airway open. Lastly, in the most serious cases surgery might be required and can be very effective, though it can also result in a number of complications and needs to be approached with caution.

Possibly the most important thing to remember about sleep apnea is that because it carries with it the potential risk of respiratory failure sufferers ought not to be tempted to use sleeping pills or to use other forms of sleep enhancers without first seeking the approval of their doctor.

Natural sleep remedies can unquestionably provide an effective complement to prescribed medication and herbal remedies that are designed to improve the duration and quality of sleep may well be of assistance in managing the excessive daytime sleepiness often brought on by sleep apnea. Similarly, things like chromatherapy, aromatherapy and meditation and guided relaxation can help in reducing the anxiety and insomnia that accompany sleep apnea. Help-Me-To-Sleep.com looks in detail at sleep apnea symptoms and also at sleep apnea in children