Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of Americans. The Greek word “apnea” means “without breath,” an accurate description of the condition. Sleep apnea has a negative impact on your health and quality of life. Sleep apnea can be successfully treated, but the first step is to have your condition correctly diagnosed by an ear, nose, and throat specialist – an ENT.
Here are the symptoms that could indicate you are suffering from sleep apnea
Frequent loud snoring
Are you accused of being a loud snorer? If so, you may have sleep apnea, and should have your condition diagnosed by a specialist.
Waking up gasping for breath
“Obstructive sleep apnea” is a condition in which the muscles at the back of your throat relax, narrowing the airway, waking you up snorting, choking, or gasping for breath. The constant waking up to restore breathing function, so the brain gets enough oxygen affects your ability to have a sleep that restores.
Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
Sleep apnea can lead to a breathing disorder in which you can only breathe through your mouth while sleeping, drying the area, awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat.
Morning headaches
The restricted breathing function of sleep apnea causes the oxygen levels in your blood to drop. Your body tries to compensate and receive more oxygen by dilating the blood vessels in the brain, and a headache.
Waking up frequently during sleep, insomnia
If you wake up frequently during sleep hours as your breathing is restricted, you will not experience a healthy, restoring sleep. Your brain may be actively preventing you from falling asleep, as it has registered that sleep leads to restricted breathing, and lack of oxygen.
Extreme tiredness during the day, no matter how long you sleep
If you have sleep apnea, you make have a pause in your breathing during sleep, which can occur several times an hour. The interrupted sleep is an unhealthy situation, as it is impossible to become fully rested, taking a toll on your work performance, focus, attitude, and ability to concentrate.
Brain fog
If you have difficulty focusing, and experience “brain fog,” you may have sleep apnea. The lack of healthy sleep affects cognitive performance, with slower thinking processes.
Irritable, mood changes
The frequent interruptions to sleep associated with sleep apnea leads to the inability to achieve a deep sleep. Extreme lack of sleep can lead to angry outbreaks, depression, and other emotional problems.
Treating sleep apnea: Next-generation treatments.
At one time, the most common treatment for sleep apnea was the use of a CPAP machine. While this treatment is effective, as the airways are kept open by a constant stream of air, these machines are unwieldy and uncomfortable. Many people are searching for a less intrusive, and more effective way to treat the condition. Our ENT specialists can diagnose your condition and have access to the latest innovations in sleep apnea therapy. You deserve to have access to the latest generation of treatments to help you achieve a healthy night of deep, uninterrupted sleep.
