7 Signs Of Sleep Apnea

By Author: SALONI SHARMA
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You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and still feel exhausted after a full night's sleep. Breathing regularly stops and starts during sleep, which is known as sleep apnea. In addition to being uncomfortable, sleep apnea is bad for both your physical and mental health. It's crucial to get checked out by a medical professional and start treatment if you exhibit any of the symptoms of sleep apnea because it's a serious condition.

According to estimates, 1 in 12 people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Despite how widespread it is, it frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated. These signs may be misunderstood or dismissed as a result of a particular circumstance, such as stress from the job, bad eating habits, or an uncomfortable sleeping environment. Even these circumstances can affect our sleep quality, this is not the same as sleep apnea.

Depression

Due to the overlap of many sleep apnea and depression symptoms, this symptom can be challenging to diagnose. Both of their symptoms can be lessened by treating sleep apnea. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea who also have depression have better ...
... after receiving treatment for the sleeping disorder.

Dry mouth

Dry mouth is a common problem that many individuals have encountered in their life. Sometimes it may be brought on by a cold, allergies, or sleeping on a pillow in a way that promotes mouth breathing. Mouth breathing can irritate the throat and promote snoring. You may have OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) if you notice that you frequently wake up thirsty or like to drink a glass of water throughout the night.

High Blood Pressure

Oxygen saturation levels drop in obstructive sleep apnea. When oxygen is scarce, the entire body is at risk. When this occurs, the brain alerts the blood arteries that more oxygen needs to be delivered to the heart and brain in order to keep the body operating normally. The strain on the vessel walls caused by the entire process raises blood pressure. Addressing OSA is the only way to lower this kind of elevated blood pressure.

Obesity

Obstructive Sleep Apnea frequently has obesity as a cause and symptom. The fact that it is one of the few symptoms that can be treated and eliminate sleep apnea is a benefit of this. The association between OSA and weight gain seems to be somewhat cyclical. Obesity has been linked to an increased chance of getting OSA, and studies have shown that decreasing weight may help lower that risk. Treatment for sleep apnea may also encourage weight loss.

Moodiness

Chronic sleep deprivation isn't going to make you happy, so don't expect that. Your body and mind aren't getting the rest they require each night. Even if you spend eight hours in bed every night, this does not guarantee that your body is receiving eight hours of uninterrupted REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle sleep.

Snoring

Snoring is an obvious sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. If you or a loved one snores loudly every night, you should consult a doctor. Although snoring on its own is not a sign of a sleep disturbance, it may be a sign of a narrow airway if you find yourself doing it frequently or if you frequently wake up gasping for air. If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep next to your snorer partner, buy orthopedic mattress online that offers excellent motion transfer and eliminates tossing and turning throughout the night.

Constant Fatigue

It's not fun to be fatigued all the time. Relationships, your job, and your mental health may all be impacted. It can be difficult to get a full night's sleep with sleep apnea. A comfortable mattress can come to the rescue, it can offer you the support that your body craves while sleeping. Buy luxury mattress online to get the best comfort for a peaceful night’s sleep.

What can you do?

It's time to get treatment if you notice any similarities with these symptoms. Fortunately, the procedure is fairly easy and will significantly improve your quality of life.

To start with, talk to your doctor and describe all of your symptoms. Your doctor may determine that it would be ideal for you to have a sleep study after examining you. Overnight sleep studies produce the most reliable results. It simply only takes one night for the patient to finish and is quite straightforward. Your doctor will receive an analysis of your sleeping habits from a sleep specialist.

There are various steps in the diagnostic process for sleep apnea, which must be done by a physician or sleep specialist.

Health History and Physical Exam

An assessment of a person's symptoms and general health, as well as a physical examination, are usually the first steps in a sleep apnea evaluation. This is intended to spot sleep apnea symptoms and pinpoint risk factors that can aggravate the disease. The existence of symptoms can contribute to the diagnosis and help identify the severity of the disorder, even though testing is necessary to confirm OSA.

Sleep Study

To identify either central or obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep study is required. In a specialised sleep laboratory, an overnight stay is required for the polysomnography, the most reliable type of sleep research.

Multiple sensors are used during polysomnography to monitor many elements of sleep, including breathing, awakenings, oxygen levels, muscle activity, and sleep stages. An in-clinic sleep study can identify abnormal breathing patterns and distinguish between central and obstructive sleep apnea. Polysomnography for OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) may require one or two trips to a sleep clinic.

Patients who are thought to have more severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea may choose for an at-home sleep study for the condition. Even if taking a sleep apnea test at home may be more practical, a health expert must still evaluate the data. For central sleep apnea, home testing is not possible.
Treatments for Sleep Apnea
Reducing breathing disturbances and enhancing sleep are the two main objectives of sleep apnea treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are treated differently.

Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Most people with obstructive sleep apnea are treated with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. PAP therapy uses pressurised air that is pushed from a machine through a hose and a mask worn on the face to maintain the airway open.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices send an airstream that is always set to the same pressure level as part of a popular kind of PAP therapy. The amount of air pressure can vary with other PAP device types including bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and auto-titrating positive airway pressure (APAP).

For persons with unique anatomical traits and less severe OSA, there are specific mouthpiece kinds that hold the jaw or tongue in a particular position as a therapeutic option. These oral appliances can lessen snoring and may be favoured by persons who experience difficulty or discomfort when using PAP devices, even though they frequently do not improve breathing as much as PAP therapy.

Patients who have tissue obstructing their airway may benefit from surgery to remove tissue from the throat and widen the airway. Implanting a device to stimulate a nerve that aids in respiratory control is required for another kind of surgical treatment.

A further aspect of treating obstructive sleep apnea involves making lifestyle adjustments to help with symptom management. These ideas could consist of:

● BMI reduction through weight loss
● Regular exercise may reduce OSA symptoms even in the absence of weight loss.
● Changing your sleeping position to avoid lying on your back
● lowering the consumption of alcohol
Treatments for Central Sleep Apnea
The medical condition causing irregular breathing is frequently the main focus of treatment for central sleep apnea. Treatment for the underlying cause may be sufficient if sleep disturbances are modest.

While also attempting to address the underlying issue, extra therapy may be advised if the symptoms of central sleep apnea are severe or chronic. This can involve using a PAP machine to encourage more consistent breathing while you sleep. Additional oxygen therapy or the use of drugs that help hasten breathing are other potential treatments.

Lifestyle changes that can help you with Sleep Apnea
People who have sleep apnea can take practical measures to manage their condition and any potential health repercussions.

Work closely with a physician: It's critical to keep in touch with a primary care physician or sleep specialist and to discuss any symptoms that persist, treatment difficulties, or other issues that might need adjusting the sleep apnea management strategy.

Avoid high-risk activities: People with sleep apnea should be aware of the dangers of daytime sleepiness and should refrain from high-risk activities. Driving and using machinery should be avoided while tired, especially for those who have untreated sleep apnea.

Consider changing sleeping position: Although they have not been well researched, specialised back-sleeping prevention solutions might help some people lessen the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

Reduce alcohol consumption: The sleep apnea treatment strategy may include a reduction in alcohol consumption. Even daytime alcohol use can increase respiratory issues at night in those with untreated Obstructive sleep apnea.