Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that affects millions of Americans each year. When an individual has this condition, he or she stops breathing numerous times each night while sleeping. The number of times an individual stops breathing depends upon the severity of the condition and whether or not it is being treated.
There are two basic types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – This form is typically more common. Usually it is caused by the soft tissue at the back of your throat obstructing the airflow to your lungs. With this type of apnea, the body is trying to breathe but is unable to do so.
Central Sleep Apnea – Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is caused by your brain failing to signal your lungs to breathe. Most of the time nothing is blocking the air passages however obstructive sleep apnea is sometimes present.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
This condition is relatively easy to diagnose. Many cases, in fact, are first discovered by a spouse. Most people who have sleep apnea snore. While snoring does not indicate that you have this condition it is sometimes closely associated with it. If you, or your spouse, notice that you wake up with a sudden gasp, you may have this condition. Other symptoms to look for include:
- Being exhausted during the day even if you think you received a full night’s sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Waking up completely unrefreshed after a full night’s rest
- Having headaches early in the morning
- Choking, or gasping, during sleep
- Tossing and turning while sleeping
- Hearing high pitch sounds that no one else hears
If you, or someone you know, experiences any of these symptoms, further investigation should be considered. Here are a few resources to help you learn more:
Who is at risk to get sleep apnea?
More than 10 million Americans live with sleep apnea. Most of these people are overweight and need to lose body fat. Middle aged men are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, Hispanics and African-Americans have a higher probability of getting this condition than Caucasians.
Always seek the advice of a qualified professional!
In all circumstances a sleep study will be highly encouraged. Only your doctor can assess the full nature of your condition, as he or she will be able to properly monitor your blood oxygen level, eye movements and heart rate while you sleep. Eliminating your sleep apnea can help to reduce your blood pressure and reduce the likelihood of having a stroke or obtaining diabetes or other heart conditions.