Report: Feeling tired after sleeping caused by sleep apnea

Washington, (IINA) - The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that more than 12 million Americans feel exhausted every morning because they have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that has been linked to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, traffic crashes, work accidents and depression, UPI reported.
The agency noted that people with the condition have numerous breathing pauses during sleep, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, is caused by an airway blockage, typically soft tissue in the back of the throat collapsing.
Men are almost twice as likely to have sleep apnea compared to women. Other risk factors include being overweight, being over 40-year-old, being a smoker, having a family history of the disorder, and having a nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies or sinus problems.
Sleep apnea can also affect children, with the most common cause being enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Losing weight and avoiding alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy, which can make it harder to breathe, can be beneficial, according to the FDA.
The most common treatment is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which delivers steady air pressure to keep airways open during sleep. If CPAP is ineffective, a device called the Inspire Upper Airway System can be used. It is surgically implanted below the collarbone and uses electrical pulses to stimulate the tongue muscles and keep airways open. Another option is an oral appliance worn during sleep to support the jaw in a forward position to help keep the upper airway open, the FDA explained.
According to Ronald Farkas, a neuroscientist in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, no drugs have been approved to treat sleep apnea, noting that doctors sometimes prescribe drugs to help people with daytime sleepiness caused by sleep apnea; however, these medications do not treat the condition.
He advised those who see doctors over sleep apnea tell their doctors about taken medications. "A number of drugs can actually make sleep apnea worse, including many for insomnia, anxiety or severe pain".
AG/IINA

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