What is the difference b/w sleep insomnia and sleep apnea?

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Sleep Apnea in Children - What You Should Know

Does your child have problems staying alert during the day?  Perhaps they are tired or irritable all the time.  Children often do not sleep well and may have a Sleep Disorder such as Sleep Apnea. 

Sleep Apnea is one of the most prevalent of the Breathing Disorders of sleep. Generally, one out of 25 middle-aged men and one out of 50 middle-aged women have Sleep Apnea but it can also affect children. 

What is Sleep Apnea?  It is a common condition characterized by a periodic reduction in or a complete stop of breathing during sleep. This is usually caused by an obstruction blocking the back of the throat so that the air cannot reach your lungs. It can be a frightening experience for a parent to watch their child suffer from these symptoms. 

Facts You Need to Know About Childhood Sleep Disorders: 

Children can be affected by Sleep Disorders, including those commonly found in adults, such as Snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, and Restless Legs Syndrome.  Children’s Sleep Disorders can affect the child’s general behaviour which can result in mood swings and general irritability.  Rest is essential to a child’s growth and development – both physically and mentally.   Sleep Apnea in children has been linked to bedwetting, growth problems and even High Blood Pressure.  With prolonged periods of insufficient sleep a child’s attention span will be affected which may result in poor school performance, learning difficulties and has been linked to ADHD.    Those who have ADHD and Sleep Disorders are difficult to treat, but when the proper treatment is found, the results can be notable such as improved conduct and decreased irritability. Most children who snore do NOT have Apnea, but a sleep study is the only reliable way to tell for sure.  Children are more likely to have it if their parents or siblings had it as children.

 

What Can Be Done:

Sleep Specialists have special training in sleep medicine and can help to determine if your child has primary Snoring, Sleep Apnea or another problem. They can then offer you the most appropriate treatment.  As with all conditions, it is essential to get the advice of a professional Healthcare provider.   

Conclusion: 

Children’s Sleep Disorders are often harmful to their development and well being.  Every child needs periods of uninterrupted sleep for optimal growth, but sleep problems are very common - especially among younger children.   Sustained periods of disturbed sleep have enormous impact on the whole family - both on parents’ ability to function during the day and on other children. 

The good news is there are many Natural Treatment Solutions for Children’s Sleep Disorders.

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Confirming the Diagnosis and Treating Sleep Apnea

Once you have been given a tentative diagnosis of sleep apnea or a similar sleep/breathing disorder, an all-night sleep test should be arranged. Proper testing for sleep disorders is important because several sleep disorders have superficial similarities and might be confused with sleep apnea or be incorrectly diagnosed if testing is not done properly. An incorrect diagnosis, leading to incorrect treatment, can be a serious error. For example, medications that are often prescribed for narcolepsy or insomnia can actually worsen sleep apnea, so a correct diagnosis is very important.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder in which people have irresistible “sleep attacks” at inappropriate times, somewhat as in sleep apnea. However, narcolepsy is a distinct neurologic disorder with its own characteristic symptoms (cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations) not found in sleep apnea.

Insomnia is sometimes confused with sleep apnea. Insomnia has numerous causes, and only a few people who have insomnia also have sleep apnea.

Two other sleep disorders sometimes occur alone or along with sleep apnea. These are periodic limb movement in sleep (PLMS, also called periodic leg movement disorder, PLMD, or nocturnal myoclonus) and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Again, appropriate testing by an experienced sleep disorders specialist will avoid confusing one sleep disorder with another.

An overnight sleep test will:

1. Confirm whether you actually have sleep apnea or another form of sleep-disordered breathing
2. Determine the type of sleep/breathing disorder, which must be known in order to select the appropriate treatment
3. Rule out other sleep disorders

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is pot useful for sleep apnea and insomnia?

I suffer from severe apnea as well as insomnia, I have a cpap which I find difficult to use, I have also went thru the surgery that is supposed to help with apnea but that made it worse. I have tried to use traditional meds like lunesta, but I become immune quickly but in the meantime, I suffer from memory loss and the like.

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Sleep Apnea and Insomnia is Ruining my Life . . .?

I have severe obstructive sleep apnea. And I’ve had two surgeries to try to correct this problem in the past year with little success. I’ve had my upper and lower jaw broken and moved forward, and my tonsils removed all within a year. I’m not overweight and I eat a very healthy diet with almost no caffeine. I’ve had no improvement with the CPAP machine (which in my opinion is always leaking and waking me up) and have tried 4 different masks so far. After my last surgery, while in the hospital recovering I had continued apnea episodes. Plus, having insomnia has got me so sleep deprived I can’t think straight. I’m scared of getting into relationships because of being tired all the time, and I even blame myself for missing out on most of my son’s life due to this. I’m depressed, can’t work anymore and don’t know what to do? My doctor will not prescribe a sleep medicine for me probably due to the apnea.

Wow, I would’ve really checked into those surgeries before I did anything. Why a doctor would think breaking your jaw would help is beyond me. I have heard of a pallete surgery that works for some, that makes more sense since your soft pallete has something to do with the problem. Tonsils have nothing to do with it either.

I suggest two things; get another doctor and research the pallete surgery thoroughly. Don’t sleep on your back, but on your sides, train yourself to sleep that way, I have and I have a very mild form of apnea.

You should also find a Sleep Center that specializes in this disorder. Also, go to a naturopath to see what natural suppliments can help you sleep that won’t be a problem for the apnea. Good luck, hang in there, and make wise decisions based on your gut and proof that it works.

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Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which a partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway is caused when the muscles of the upper airway relax during sleep. It causes the person with OSA to partially awaken from deep stages of sleep until the airway clears, often many times in one night.

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CNN interview on insomnia, Nabeel Farah, M.D.

CNN interview on insomnia, Nabeel Farah, M.D.

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Does Anemia cause you to be sleepy?

& if it does, and I have trouble GETTING to sleep, how can I get a good night's sleep? I've been through a Sleep Clinic, and I DO NOT have Sleep-Apnea…some "Insomnia"…but no Apnea. I've tried L-Trip. and Melatonin…but they do nothing. I don't want to go without sleep until I'm diagnosed (from the bone marrow test). Besides, I don't know if it's a separate problem from Anemia, or part of it. Can anyone tell me?

my mom and i think that i am anemic so i have been doing lots of research on anemia. feeling tired is a symptom and so is having trouble sleeping. talk to your doctor!! also, go to google and type in symptoms of anemia. good luck!

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Insomnia vs Sleep Apnea

How can you tell whether you have insomnia or sleep apnea? Whats the difference?

Insomnia is a broad term that describes trouble going to sleep, staying asleep, or sleeping for the full time you need to in order to feel refreshed. Insomnia, like other secondary sleep disorders, is most often a symptom that some other physical, emotional, behavioral or environmental problem is affecting sleep. Most researchers characterize the different types of insomnia by frequency and length of time it continues. The following are the main forms of insomnia.

- Transient, or temporary, insomnia typically lasts between one and several nights and is usually caused by stress or emotion.

- Intermittent insomnia occurs off and on over a long period of time and is also most frequently a result of stress or anxiety.

- Chronic insomnia occurs on most nights, lasts at least two weeks (and possibly much longer), and may result from one or more medical conditions.

Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. First described in 1965, sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. It owes its name to a Greek word, apnea, meaning “want of breath.” There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea, which is less common, occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations. Obstructive sleep apnea is far more common and occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person’s nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue.

In a given night, the number of involuntary breathing pauses or “apneic events” may be as high as 20 to 30 or more per hour. These breathing pauses are almost always accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes, although not everyone who snores has this condition. Sleep apnea can also be characterized by choking sensations. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

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Oak Ridge Sleep Clinic Parkway Sleep Disorder Center

When counting sheep isn’t getting the job done, visit Parkway Sleep Disorder Center in Oak Ridge, TN. In addition to treating insomnia, the center tests, diagnoses and treats sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders. Part of Parkway Cardiology ociates, PSDC works closely with cardiologists, as sleep disorders often coincide with cardiovascular issues. Schedule an appointment for advanced and compassionate services aimed at restoring healthy sleeping patterns.
Visit us http://www.yellowpages.com/info-4217411/Parkway-Sleep-Disorder-Center

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