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Sleep apnea symptoms can vary from person to person both in severity and frequency. Even if you don’t experience the same level of difficulty breathing during sleep, you may still experience some of the other symptoms associated with sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder in which a person stops breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea often stop breathing up to 100 times during the course of a night’s sleep. Sleep apnea is the most common breathing disorder, affecting millions of people.
People with sleep apnea may experience sleepiness during the day, irritability, lack of concentration, and mood swings. Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles governing breathing are weakened during sleep.
The mouth and throat remain open, breathing stops, and the person falls into a deep sleep. After a few minutes, the muscles of breathing relax and breathing resumes. When someone has sleep apnea, their breathing stops hundreds of times during a night’s sleep.
This causes the person to feel groggy and tired when
they wake up in the morning. Besides sleepiness, other symptoms of sleep apnea
include extreme daytime fatigue and memory loss. People with sleep apnea may
also have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood
pressure.
Signs and symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Extreme fatigue after awakening.
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing.
- Loss of memory
- Mental sharpness Problems with memory and/or concentration Irritability or mood swing
- Difficulty with planning or organization Earaches
- Sore throats and nasal congestion Snoring
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
While sleep apnea is common, it’s not dangerous. However, it can be a major health problem. The most common Sleep apnea symptoms are
- sleepiness.
- fatigue.
- memory problems.
If left untreated, these symptoms can lead to dangerous health consequences, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and accidents.
If you experience a lot of sleepiness during the day, irritability, lack of concentration, or mood swings, you may have sleep apnea. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea.
People with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to develop high
blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Risk factors for Sleep Apnea
Losing weight or gaining weight, especially if you are underweight or overweight Being older than 50 Being African American, Asian, or Hispanic Having a family history of sleep apnea or other breathing disorders.
Having a tonsil condition, such as enlarged tonsils or throat tumors Having a small throat Having a medical condition that makes it harder for you to breathe, such as asthma, emphysema, or a condition affecting your respiratory tract Having a mouth injury, tooth root abscess, or gum disease Having a muscle disorder such as spasms, contractures, or dystonia
How to Diagnose Sleep Apnea
If you’re concerned that you may have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor. He might ask you questions regarding your sleep habits and medical history. Your doctor may order blood tests to check your thyroid, adrenal, and hormonal levels.
He or she may also ask you to snore into a device called an overnight thermometer. If your doctor suspects sleep apnea, he could go for sleep study. During the study, a machine will record and log your sleep as you sleep in a comfortable setting.
The machine will record how long you are asleep for and
how often you stop breathing. The machine can also detect signs of sleep apnea,
such as a person’s breathing pattern, the number of times breathing stops, and
the time it takes to resume breathing.
Getting Treatment for Sleep Apnea
If you have mild sleep apnea, you may be able to treat it on your own. However, if it’s severe or you have a medical condition that makes it difficult to breathe, such as asthma, emphysema, or a condition affecting your respiratory tract, you will need to see a doctor.
There are a number of breathing devices that you can use to help you breathe more easily during sleep. These devices include CPAP (Continuous Positive airway pressure) machines, which are used to treat sleep apnea, and even a simple mouthpiece can help you breathe more easily while you sleep.
If your doctor recommends using a CPAP machine, make sure you find a
doctor who is experienced in treating sleep apnea with a CPAP machine. You
don’t want to use a machine that is too strong for you.
Final words: Should You Be Concerned about Sleep Apnea?
If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, your doctor can test you for the condition. He or she may also be able to diagnose the condition through a sleep study. If you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you.
Your treatment options include using a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea, taking medications to treat your symptoms, or having surgery to correct obstructive sleep apnea. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.
Above all, remember that treatment is important. Sleep apnea is treatable
and can be prevented with lifestyle changes and regular medical checkups. Stay
vigilant about your health and make sure to get the proper rest you need.
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