sleep apnea
Most people with obstructive sleep apnea tend to be obese and snore loudly. The disorder has been medically linked to hypertension, which in turn puts people at greater risk of heart failure and stroke. Weight reduction in persons who are overweight is an important factor in effective treatment. Alcoholic drinks near bedtime and sleeping pills should be avoided. Sometimes obstructive sleep apnea can be treated by surgically correcting the narrowing of the airway. Another option is continuous positive airway pressure, which involves wearing a mask over the nose and mouth during sleep; this treatment keeps the airway open by forcing air into the nasal passages. A different type of sleep apnea, called central sleep apnea, is believed to be caused by an abnormality in the brain's regulation of breathing during sleep.
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