Sleep Apnoea is a breathing problem says a South East London dentist

Sleep Apnoea is a breathing problem says a South East London dentist

24 / 04 / 2010

Sleep Apnoea is a malfunction in our breathing pattern that stops our breathing during sleep, says a South East London dentist. The problem is a recently diagnosed one, and it was only in the mid 1960s that the problem really came to light. Periods of 10 seconds or longer are experienced by the sufferer during sleep, this happens when the throat muscles are in a state of complete relaxation and close the throat completely. The condition has been known about for centuries, but little or no research was carried out until the 1960s. The `Fat Boy` in Charles Dickens stories about Mr Pickwick was a sufferer, a doctor in the 1850s recognised this strange occurrence and named it the Pickwick Syndrome, but never wrote a paper on it. Very little is still known about this syndrome and the causes, and even less is known about the long term effects on the sufferer. Snoring is one sign of the presence of it, as is a constant tiredness due to the sleep deprivation that is a side effect of the constant awakening. Breathing problems which cause a lack of Oxygen to be taken in and a build up on Carbon Dioxide within the body, are two problems that put a strain on the heart and the vital organs that rely of a constant supply in order to function. During medical procedures a patient who is prone to this can cause extra problems, especially as it is usually impossible to awaken as most sufferers do in a normal sleep mode. Another problem with Sleep Apnoea is that it is associated with obesity and that in itself is a huge problem. The main problem is that Sleep Apnoea is a cause of obesity and obesity is a cause of Sleep Apnoea.