Do you awake early in the day as exhausted as you did when you fell asleep? Do you have a doctor tell you that you have a loud snore, and have trouble breathing during sleep? It is possible you have Sleep Apnea. Find out details about the signs and the diagnosis for this type of.
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What exactly is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep Apnoea or as it is commonly referred to as Sleep Apnea, is a fairly common issue. It can cause sleep disruptions which can cause fatigue and a decreased level of awareness during the morning, headaches in the morning or dry throats when you awake.
The definition in the medical literature of an Apnea is the cessation of breath lasting at minimum 10 seconds. The medical condition known as “Sleep Apnea” is a disorder in which patients cease breathing and experience repeatedly apneas for long durations of time while asleep.
The most frequent kind of OSA is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (or OSA) and this is when the airway has become blocked or collapsed while you sleep. If you attempt to breathe, air that gets past the obstruction typically causes loud snoring, which is almost always related to OSA. In the event of an apnea condition, when breathing ceases it is when the oxygen concentration in your blood decreases because your lungs do not receive fresh oxygen or fresh air for replenishing your blood supply in the exchange of carbon dioxide until it is at dangerously low levels, which are enough to cause your brain to disrupt your sleep. The reflex action that follows helps to tighten the upper airway muscles , and let your windpipe open.
Normal breathing resumes usually by a body jerk, an ominous snort, or a choking sound and generally without being aware that it has taken place.
Factors that have been proven to increase the likelihood of OSA include the presence of a background of sleep disorders in the family an overly large neck with a chin that is recessed, male sex, irregularities in the upper airway structure smoking, alcohol consumption as well as excess weight and age.
Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs most often in those obese, however it can be a problem for any person.
How can Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
There isn’t any blood or any other post-event test to diagnose the condition so it is typically identified by remarks or complaints from relatives or sleeping companions who are concerned by your frequent gasping, choking or snoring throughout your sleep and the long times when you are unable to breathe entirely while sleeping.
Sleep Apnea is a life-threatening issue due to the decreased quality of sleep and frequent decreases in blood oxygen levels during apnea leading to an increase in stress hormones. These hormones, in addition to other things, can increase the heart rate and increase the risk of high blood pressure, as well as other cardiovascular illnesses and issues.
More obscure but potentially more serious medical issues which can be made worse or aggravated by the condition are the effects of weight gain, impotency memory lapses or depression, mood swings, and personality issues. Sleep sleep apnea may be having significant effects on your lifestyle and health, without knowing about it. In fact, it could be affecting your life!
So, What Should You Do?
Your partner is concerned about your breathing, or your snoring. You are always exhausted throughout the day, and you think you might be suffering from a sleep disorder. What should you do?
First, make for an appointment to see your family physician for a discussion of your issues. Your physician will likely make an appointment to visit an expert in sleep and undertake a sleep study.
Before your appointment, it is recommended to keep your sleep journal for at least a couple of days, or more if you can with you, or perhaps your sleep partner . Record the way you sleep, whether you have difficulty breathing throughout the night, if you notice breath gaps, choke or gasping episodes or snoring, and how loud it gets and also how your sleeping position affects it, also how it feels after waking up, and later during the day.
Also, note any other irregularities that might be noted, like movement of your legs or leg during sleep, or even in the daytime when you appear to fall asleep or feel extremely tired.
Making a video recording of your sleeping habits could be helpful to assist your Sleep Specialist in the initial diagnosis.
The Sleep Specialist will typically conduct an examination of your throat to determine physical reasons behind the apnea and snoring and to evaluate your suitability to various treatments. If your doctor suspects you are having Sleep Apnea they will usually require an exam of your sleep in order to track your sleeping patterns and your sleeping patterns in a safe and monitored setting.
It is typically the first step in the process of diagnosis and ultimately treatment for sleep apnea. The risk of failing to act, particularly if you’re suffering from Sleep Apnea sufferer, are too significant to be ignored and shouldn’t be considered lightly. If you suspect you are suffering from a sleep disorder like Sleep Apnea take steps now and get evaluated and it could be a life-saving step (yours).