Respiratory System
What is the respiratory system?
The respiratory system is a system which aims to take respiratory gas to the interior of the said organism and to undergo gas exchange. In humans, the respiratory gas refers to oxygen, and the primary function of the respiratory system would be to provide oxygen for the blood, to allow the blood to deliver the oxygen to various parts of the body.
The respiratory system is a system which aims to take respiratory gas to the interior of the said organism and to undergo gas exchange. In humans, the respiratory gas refers to oxygen, and the primary function of the respiratory system would be to provide oxygen for the blood, to allow the blood to deliver the oxygen to various parts of the body.
Although Alexander Disease does not directly impact upon the respiratory system, several symptoms of Alexander Disease impacts upon the respiratory system negatively.
One of the major symptoms of Alexander Disease which affects the respiratory system is sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is characterized as a sleep disorder in which the affected individual suffers from a low level of breathing or an extended pause between breaths during sleeping. The affected individual sometimes are not aware of the fact they suffer from sleep apnea, however severe cases of sleep apnea may severely affect the individual, and therefore should be considered a serious medical condition.
Individuals suffering from sleep apnea are at an increased danger of serious medical conditions including: stroke, heart failure, depression, and liver problems. Affected individuals are especially at risk of suffering from heart problems due to their high blood pressure. Due to the affected individual momentarily pausing between breaths, their body suffers from sudden drops in oxygen levels in their bloods which may potentially lead to the straining of the heart. In addition, the individual may suffer from difficulties breathing normally if the individual is affected by sleep apnea for prolonged periods of time. (10)