What Is the Difference Between Sleep Apnea And Insomnia?

Sleep deprivation can seriously affect one's mental and physical health and well-being. Both sleep apnea and insomnia have some of the same symptoms, which are poor concentration, headache, fatigue and daytime sleepiness. If these sleeping disorders have some of the same symptoms, then what is the difference between sleep apnea and insomnia?

Sleep Apnea

Someone with sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep. These episodes last 10 seconds or more and can occur hundreds of times a night without the sufferer even knowing it.

There are three types of apnea: central, obstructive and complex.

• Central sleep apnea is caused by the brain's inability to regulate breathing patterns during sleep.
• Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common apnea and is caused by airway obstructions. These blockages can be the result of swollen tonsils, obesity, or excessive muscle relaxation during dream sleep.
• Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both central and obstructive sleep apnea.

Besides the symptoms that both sleep apnea and insomnia share, all three types of apnea are characterized by loud snoring, irritability, gasping, choking, and memory or learning problems.

Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common sleeping disorders. Someone who has insomnia is unable to fall asleep or stay asleep. However, unlike sleep apnea, most people with insomnia know that they have it.

The three types of insomnia are transient, acute, and chronic.

• Transient insomnia lasts less than a week. It can be caused by a number of reasons, such as severe depression, stress, or sleep pattern changes.
• Acute insomnia is known as the short term or stress related insomnia. A person suffering with acute insomnia is unable to consistently sleep well for close to a month.
• Chronic insomnia can last for more than a month. Some of the symptoms associated with chronic insomnia are: hallucinations, double vision, muscular and mental fatigue.

For the best sleep apnea and insomnia treatment options, consult a physician. Interested in learning more about sleep apnea and insomnia? Get more information about the field of polysomnography by visiting HealthCareers.net.