What Is Sleep Apnea And How Do You Treat It?
Sleep apnea is a common condition that causes you to have short pauses in breathing
, or shallow breaths while you sleep. The condition also causes you to move out of deep sleep and into lighter sleep, or possibly wake up without even realizing it.
While it is rare, the condition can contribute to other health conditions and possibly lead to death. NFL star defensive lineman Reggie White died at the age of 43 from irregular heart activities. Doctors also confirmed White suffered from sleep apnea, which played at least some role in his death.
How Do You Know if You Have It?
It may be difficult to identify any of the symptoms on your own and most people learn they have the condition when their spouse points it out to them. Here are a few of the symptoms you may experience, according to Helpguide.com:
Chronic loud snoring
Choking and gasping while sleeping
Long pauses in breathing
Sleepiness during the day no matter how much time you spent sleeping
Frequent urination during the night
Headaches during the day due to lack of sleep
Frequent awakening during the night
Moodiness, irritability, or depression
How are Sleep Apnea and Obstructed Airways Diagnosed?
Your primary care doctor or even your dentist may perform a physical exam, and diagnosis and treatment will vary according to medical provider.
There are two common methods for testing for sleep apnea:
Polysomnogram (PSG): This test is painless, although you may feel a little stressed because you will have to go into a clinic and have sensors placed on many different parts of your body such as your head, face, chest, limbs, and fingers. A sleep specialist checks on you throughout the night, and then reads the results of your test to determine whether you have sleep apnea, and how severe it is.
Home-Based Portable Monitor: This monitor records all the same information that would be recorded if you performed a sleep study. This test may help to diagnose the condition, or it may be used to determine whether you need to go to a sleep center for a sleep study.
What is the Treatment Process?
There are several different treatments for sleep apnea, including:
Mouthpieces
Nasal strips
Breathing devices
Surgery
Lifestyle changes such as drinking less alcohol or losing weight
For moderate to severe cases, a CPAP machine is the most common form of treatment. This machine has a small mask that fits over your mouth and nose, gently blowing air into your throat.
Wake Up Feeling Refreshed
Once you have your sleep apnea treated, you will feel noticeably different. People with sleep apnea often feel lazy or run down because they are so exhausted from not sleeping. Getting treatment for sleep apnea can help reduce that feeling of sleeplessness you feel. If you feel chronically fatigued or exhausted, take a second look at the symptoms presented in this article and have a conversation with your primary doctor it may be one of the best decisions in your life.
by: Amy Nicole
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