It is often hard to differentiate between snoring and a serious medical condition known as sleep apnea. However, there are definitive symptoms of sleep apnea if you know what to look for. Snoring, for instance, is a distracting occurrence caused by vibrations from fatty tissues rubbing against the back of the throat.
Sleep apnea is much more serious and may be recognize by the presence of heavy snoring, pauses between breaths, etc. A spouse may be the best source of information relating to these, but the apnea sufferer will instantly recognize the absence of breath through the night.
One of the symptoms of sleep apnea is the complete loss of air on multiple occasions throughout the night. It is a known fact that sufferers actually stop breathing on more than on occasion.
As a result, the sufferer may awake short of breath, choking or gasping for air, etc. They may not realize what has happened at first, but may start to recognize a pattern of shortness of breath and discomfort during the night.
Sleep apnea is often recognized in other ways, as well. One of the less obvious symptoms of sleep apnea is fatigue, which is also present in so many other ailments. Fatigue exists due to the disruption of sleep and/or inability to fall asleep. Additional symptoms of sleep apnea may include headaches, the inability to concentrate on everyday activities, exhaustion, irritability, etc.
The symptoms of sleep apnea are noticeable if you are familiar with them. However, even if symptoms of sleep apnea are present, only a physician can properly diagnose the disorder. A series of questions and a sleep study may be ordered during the evaluation period.
It is very important to receive an early diagnosis because, if left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to other serious medical conditions. Among them, heart disease, an increased risk of a stroke and more.
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy
With sleep apnea the person stops breathing for 10 or more seconds five times, or more, every hour which can lead to there being low oxygen levels in the body which in turn leads to many more serious health conditions.
The three most likely people to suffer from sleep apnea are:
? Those who are overweight. ? Those who smoke cigarettes. ? Those who drink alcohol.
Regular snoring (the medical term is 'primary snoring'), is often more of a problem for the spouse, significant other and family members or the snorer. However there are some possible serious effects that may develop where the snorer's body is "struggling" to breath. This condition, a precursor to sleep apnea, is known as 'Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) .
which is a precursor to sleep apnea which results in extreme sleepiness, with such dangerous side-effects as falling asleep at the wheel while driving an automobile.
Beyond snoring is the serious condition of sleep apnea. It occurs when the person snoring gets to the point where they actually stop breathing for ten or more seconds, possibly a hundred or more times each night.
Stopping breath and severly interuptting you sleep can cause daytime sleepiness, a big increase in automobile accidents, irritability, personality change, restless sleep, headaches, and shortness of breath.
Having sleep apnea can result in other health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease ... and even death. With such potentially serious problems as these, you can see why is a serious problem and it is very important to catch and treat it before it get too serious.
Signs of Sleep Apnea are;
? Waking up tired
? Daytime sleepiness
? Poor memory
? Impaired concentration
? Headaches, particularly in the morning
? Impotence in men
? Frequent need for night time urination.
There are two types of sleep apnea "Obstructive Sleep Apnea" and "Central Sleep Apnea", although neither is good, "Central" is even more serious.
Obstructive sleep apnea is thought to mainly affect men who are 40 and 60 old and it is said to occur when the nasal passages and the upper airways become obstructed during sleep. Ordinarily the obstruction is caused by the soft tissue of the throat (the pharynx) simply relaxing during sleep. This obstruction prevents breathing until the levels of oxygen in the blood fall to such a low level that the sufferer wakens and responds by taking a deep breath ? accompanied by snorting, rasping and other noises associated with snoring.
Obstructive sleep apnea is generally caused by, or made worse by, being overweight.
Central Sleep Apnea occurs when the nerves that automatically regulate breathing do not work properly It is a neurological problem; no "mechanical" obstruction is involved, as is the case with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
In both cases, and if left untreated, severe sleep apnea can eventually become life threatening.
If you snore and notice any of the above mentioned symptoms, talk with your primary doctor and have it checked out.
Both Alan Schill & Mike Herman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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