Do You Know The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Do you know the symptoms of sleep apnea? If you think that you might have sleep apnea, then you need to know some of the symptoms and ways that this condition manifests itself so that you know if you have a real condition or just have a stuffy nose. If you think you do have this sleep disorder, then you might want to consider seeking medical attention, but you need to have the right information to decide if you are even close to suffering with sleep apnea.
While you cannot tell if you’re snoring most of the time, or if you are suffering from sleep apnea, your sleeping partner can tell you what’s going on. For this reason, sleep apnea is often diagnosed through a sleep study, where professionals watch you sleep and can properly diagnose you with sleep apnea if you have it.
That being said, if you don’t know the symptoms of sleep apnea then you won’t be able to see your doctor about it. While most of us relate sleep apnea to snoring, you should know that there other symptoms of this condition which may not include snoring. You might also find that you or the person you sleep with has long pauses between snores. This could mean that the breathing also stops momentarily and that can be scary to listen to. You should know that this is a major indicator of sleep apnea. Many times, the sleeper might gasp or seem to choke, which usually means they are having a hard time sleeping.
One of the more major symptoms of sleep apnea in a person who snores is the feeling of extreme tiredness during the day. Often, this can happen to people who should be getting enough sleep throughout the night, yet they find themselves tired day after day. It is also common for people who suffer from sleep apnea to sleep on their backs and breathe through their mouths during the day.
When you know the symptoms and manifestations of sleep apnea, you can decide if you have any of them and decide if you should seek medical attention for your snoring problem. You should know, though, that sleep apnea can be quite dangerous and should be treated if you think you suffer with this condition, so even if you just snore loudly and sleep on your back, it might be worth it to consider having a sleep study done to rule out the possibility of sleep apnea.
A Few Things To Know About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can be typically categorized by the pauses in the breathing while someone is sound asleep. This can cause the person to not breathe at all for several breath counts and it can happen repeatedly throughout the night. This can be a continuous occurrence. It is easy to see why this condition can be serious as it causes someone to not breathe correctly. If left untreated or unacknowledged, it can truly lead to some dangerous health concerns.
Sleep apnea can be put into two different categories, obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. If you have the sensation that something is actually blocking your airway and you stop breathing normally, this is obstructive sleep apnea. If there is a wrong signal from the brain which results in your muscles interfering with normal sleep and leaving you feeling restless, this is central sleep apnea.
The distinct sound of snoring is perhaps the most tell tale sign that someone has the disorder. You may notice more of a grunting nose rather than the typical sounds most associate with a normal non dangerous snore. Alongside this unusual snore, the disruption in a normal breathing pattern is also very indicative of sleep apnea. Headaches in the morning are also a common symptom of the disorder because of lack of adequate rest. There are other symptoms you must be aware of. They are mood swings, nighttime urination, impotence, depression, dry mouth and others. You will notice the feeling of tiredness and being sleepy in the daytime also due to the sleep apnea.
The very first step to getting better is to accept the fact that you do indeed have sleep apnea. This will be the best thing you can do to start getting better. Even if you still believe you are able to get a decent enough nights sleep, you can not ignore sleep apnea or take it lightly. Do not just accept a good enough night sleep as common or something that you have to just live with.
Time will only lead this to get worse if you do not address or treat it properly. If you just let it go on and on you may find a day when you no longer can treat it effectively. You will not be able to treat it on your own but have to rely on costly medications to help you. You may even get to a point where surgery is the only alternative you have left to try to get yourself back on track.
There are things that can cause sleep apnea or at the very least aggravate it. Some of the factors include obesity, age, enlarged tonsils, and high blood pressure. Engaging in smoking, too much alcohol and even family history can all play a role. This can be a very serious condition to contend with. You may have to take it upon yourself to do all of the necessary research to deal with the problem proactively before it becomes worse. If left untreated, you could be looking at more serious problems such as heart problems and other blood pressure issues.
Sleep apnea actually affects more men than women. It also plagues folks who are over the age of 65. After menopause and when excess weight is added to the body, you may see it spike more in women. You have to deal with it immediately and while it can be treated. Seeking out a dental professional is one step to correcting the problem. Making sure you are in top physical shape and overall in a healthy state is the best thing you can do to help improve your sleep apnea.
