sleep apnea.. ?
my dad was full asleep when all of a sudden he awoke in a flash gasping for a breath of air. this lasted for almost a minute. I did some research and found that he shows the symptoms of sleep apnea from this site; (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000811.htm#Calling%20your%20health%20care%20provider)I guess he was choking on his vomit in his sleep? Does anyone know how severe sleep apnea is? how easily can it be treated? we called the local hospital but they didnt have a nurse on call, does anyone have any advice on what we should do.. call an ambulance? or is it something that isnt likely to happen again?
Tagged with: ambulance • breath of air • dad • local hospital • nih • nlm • nurse • sleep • symptoms of sleep apnea • vomit
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Sleep apnea can be fatal if it is untreated. It usually does not involve choking on one’s own vomit, however. That would probably be caused by acid reflux. Sleep apnea comes in several forms, most commonly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). With OSA, the airway is blocked, whether by the throat muscles constricting or the uvula (not the tonsils) sliding over the airway. Central sleep apnea is caused by the brain failing to communicate to the body to breathe. Therefore, there is absolutely no effort. Mixed apnea is a combination of central and obstructive apnea.
People with sleep apnea often feel tired/sleepy after getting a full-night’s "rest". They are also prone to falling asleep at inconvenient or unsafe times (mid-conversation, sitting up and watching television, driving). They may also suffer from morning headaches and even frequent nightmares.
Sleep apnea is most commonly treated with a machine called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). If after having undergone a sleep study, it is discovered that your father has sleep apnea, it will be recommended that he return for a second night which entails him being fitted with a mask that connects to the CPAP machine. There are nasal, oral, and full-face (sits over nose and mouth) masks. The CPAP simply blows air down the throat to keep the airway from closing. It uses filtered air from the room. There are no bells or whistles that alert him and arouse him from sleep when he stops breathing. That would defeat the purpose of the machine. It makes it possible for him to remain asleep by eliminating the apnea altogether (and any snoring if he has it).
Usually a physician has to refer patients to a sleep lab/center to have a study done. However, some labs take patients without referrals. You can visit http://www.sleepcenters.org to find the sleep lab/center nearest you. It is a good idea to go to one that is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. That way you can rest assured that the lab is following proven rules and regulations.
Sleep apnea is a serious and can be deadly syndrome that is treatable. Doctors generally schedule a sleep study test to make a determination. First, how many times has this happened to him? Then, think if the vomiting was brought on by the chocking? If you have those answers and these occurs often, contact a physician or his family doctor and schedule for him to be seen. Apnea is when the brain response is slower than the body’s natural alert to the lungs to aspirate, thus cause lack of inflation, thus no oxygen to lungs and slowing the heart natural rhythm. People can die if it’s not treated. If he has sleep apnea, they will hook up a monitor while he sleeps and each time he stops breathing the monitor will alarm and wake him enough to breath and then he will go right back to sleep. It’s very easily treated these days. Stop worrying and do first things first before you panic. It may have be mucus or Flem in his throat that caused it to happen. Best of Luck.
Sleep apnea can be treated with a CPAP of a BiPAP depending on how severe it is. Weight loss may also help. Sleep apnea should be treated because your body need to have at least 2 hours of REM sleep to recover every day. It is time for the body to heal its self.I can cause alot of damage to your body if left untreated.
My son had sleep apnea when he was 5 years old. I took him to the doctor and they decided his tonsils needed to be removed. Since then, no problems. My youngest son was a preemie, and had it. When he came home from the hospital we had a machine that was hooked up to his chest. If he stopped breathing, an alarm went off. Often that alarm jolted him enough to start his breathing again, sometimes we had to help him.
Sleep apnea doesn’t mean someone is choking on vomit. It is more like their bodies "forget" to breathe for a minute. There are several options for treatment, from medication to surgery to a breathing machine when sleeping. It can be serious. It disrupts a persons ability for a good night of sleeping and (not trying to frighten you) there have been cases where people have died from it.
Do you know for sure he has apnea? It could be just about anything from a single incident to asthma among other things.
*The best thing you can do if he stops breathing again is to call 9-11 and they will tell you what to do. I also strongly suggest that he gets to a doctor ASAP.
surgery is the treatment,, ask your dad to sleep on lateral position during bed time (left side) to minimize apnea & prevent aspiration (vomitus, saliva etc goes to the lungs) & may cause death