Exploring the Signs of Sleep Apnea
Exploring the Signs of Sleep Apnea
Exploring the Signs of Sleep Apnea
Do you feel that the symptoms you or a family member is experiencing may be signs of sleep apnea? This disorder can be difficult to diagnose, largely because most of the symptoms you'll experience will happen overnight while you sleep. But there are certain signs of sleep apnea that, when taken together, can be very reliable indicators that the condition indeed exists. In this article we will take a look at several different signs of sleep apnea to help give you a better idea of what you should be looking for.
Sleep apnea is defined as a pause in your breathing while you sleep, usually caused by an obstructed airway. It can be a potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated and can lead to both heart attacks and strokes along with a number of others dangerous health conditions. The following signs may be an indication of the disorder and should be taken very seriously.
* Loud Snoring - While not all snoring can be attributed to this disorder, certain types of snoring can. Snoring in people who suffer from this disorder is usually very loud, followed by brief periods of silence. This will usually be followed by a loud snort or grunt as breathing resumes.
* Morning headaches - Consistent morning headaches may be an indication of insufficient oxygen overnight caused by obstruction of the airway.
* Waking Tired - If you consistently wake in the morning feeling tired and depleted of energy, it may be an indication that sleep apnea interfered with your ability to reach long periods of deep sleep.
* Chest retractions during sleep - This is especially prevalent in young children and is characterized by the chest pulling inward during sleep.
* High Blood Pressure - Inconsistencies in the amount of sleep you receive each night could lead to hypertension.
* Overweight - Those who are overweight or obese are much more likely to develop apnea.
* Irritability - A lack of sleep caused by sleep apnea can lead to irritability.
* Depression - This disorder may cause changes in your personality including depression, anxiety and difficulty concentrating.
* Excessive perspiring during sleep - The extra work required by people who suffer from this disorder while they sleep may lead to excessive perspiring.
* Reduced libido - Sleep apnea sufferers regularly report a change in their sex drive.
* Restless sleep - Sleep apnea can cause sufferers to rapidly go from deep sleep to shallow sleep several times a night.
In addition, the following are also considered common symptoms:
* Confusion upon awakening
* Dry mouth upon awakening
* Frequent nocturnal urination
* Nocturnal snorting, gasping and choking
* Heartburn
Naturally, all of these signs of sleep apnea could point to other conditions as well, but when several of these symptoms are present together it is usually a fairly reliable indicator of the presence of the disorder. In determining whether or not you suffer from it, doctors may recommend a sleep study in which you are observed overnight for symptoms while you sleep. If the disorder is diagnosed, there are a number of treatment strategies which can help lessen the effects of the apnea and restore you to good nights of sleep.
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