What is Sleep Apnea
Have you ever been woken up by the sound of yourself snoring? Was it so loud that neither you nor your partner got a good night’s rest? Is your snoring making you feel extremely tired during the day?
Most people brush off the thought that they snore loudly. It’s completely normal to snore, just about everyone snores occasionally, right?
Wrong. Loud snoring especially when accompanied by drowsiness or sleepiness during the day, even after a full nights’ sleep could be a sign of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a common, but serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and then starts during sleep. Symptoms include loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and restless sleep. If you have sleep apnea, you are most likely unaware of these breathing pauses in your sleep pattern. All you know is that you don’t feel as active and productive during the day as you would like to.
Sleep apnea is relatively common. 1 in 5 adults experiences mild symptoms of sleep apnea. Although more prevalent in a more mature age-group (50 years +), sleep apnea can affect all ages, even children.
Causes of sleep apnea:
You are at higher risk of developing sleep apnea if you are:
– Male and overweight
– Over the age of 50, a smoker and high blood pressure
– Someone with a neck circumference of more than 40cm’s
A few other physical characteristics that put you at risk include a deviated septum, receding chin, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Allergies resulting in nasal congestion could also lead to sleep apnea.
Types of sleep apnea:
There are three major types of sleep apnea:
– Obstructive sleep apnea: Diagnosed as one of the most common forms of sleep apnea, it occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway, causing loud snoring.
– Central sleep apnea: Affects the central nervous system as the brain fails to signal the muscles controlling the breathing movements. People with central sleep apnea rarely snore.
– Complex sleep apnea: Symptoms of both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.
One of the most common types of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea which occurs when the air passage is blocked causing pauses in breath and deep, loud snoring. As the most common symptom of sleep apnea occurs whilst you are asleep, you may only discover that you are affected when your partner complains about your snoring. Although it might be embarrassing, it is not something you should take lightly or even ignore.
Warning Signs:
Pay attention to the following warning signs, if you suspect you suffer from sleep apnea:
– Loud snoring every night
– Shortness of breath experienced during the night
– Choking or snorting during sleep
– Daytime fatigue even after a full nights’ sleep
– Waking up with a dry mouth
– Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
– Moodiness and irritability
Sleep deprivation experiences as a result of sleep apnea can cause daytime fatigue, poor concentration, and slow reflexes resulting in unfortunate and sometimes fatal accidents. Sleep apnea can cause irritability, moodiness, and even depression. It can also spiral into other problems such as heart disease, weight gain, and liver issues.
Talk to your doctor if you show signs of sleep apnea. With the right treatment you can control your snoring and the symptoms of sleep apnea, get your sleep back on track, and feel refreshed and alert during the day.