If you're wondering just what are the signs of sleep apnea then you're not alone. Sleep apnea is becoming more and more common these days and it's not a minor inconvenience that should be ignored. Sleep apnea, if left unchecked, can cause poisons in the blood to build up which eventually leads to damage of all muscles and organs, including the brain. So what are the signs of sleep apnea and what should you do if you suspect you have this condition?
First off, when asking what are the signs of sleep apnea remember that occasional sleeplessness is not the same as sleep apnea. Chances are that everyone has a night here and there when they can't get to sleep or wake up during the night for any number of reasons. Too much caffeine during the day, stress, physical injury or discomfort, and a lack of regular physical activity can all interfere with healthy sleep patterns. So what are the signs of sleep apnea that separate it from the signs of other causes of sleeplessness?
Drowsiness during the day, irritability and mood swings, chronic headaches, muscle aches, sore throat and neck stiffness in the morning are all symptoms of sleep apnea. During the night, choking, gasping, wheezing, and loud snoring are also symptoms. These symptoms are especially appropriate with sleep apnea because they signal that the body is having trouble breathing during sleep.
When considering just what are the signs of sleep apnea it's important to be aware of not just these daytime symptoms but to pay attention to the nighttime symptoms as well. Sometimes people can have chronic headaches for a variety of reasons or may be experiencing mood swings and irritability due to hormones, stress, problems on the job or with one's personal life, and so on. However, gasping, choking, wheezing, snorting, and loud snoring during the night are almost always signs of sleep apnea.
So have we answered the question, what are the signs of sleep apnea? If you're still not sure and are wondering if your sleeplessness and other symptoms are results of sleep apnea, it's time to talk to your doctor. Not only can sleep apnea cause some serious health complications during the day, it can actually be deadly. Too many sufferers have actually died during the night because of untreated apnea. So be sure to take your symptoms seriously and get it treated right away.
Signs Of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is an important sleep disorder where individuals experience irregular breathing and a pause while sleeping. Pauses in breathing could last as long as 10 to 20 seconds and may occur 30 times or more per hour. There are two types of sleep apnea. The first is obstructive sleep apnea and the second is central sleep apnea.
Breathing is either reduced or stopped if you have sleep apnea. Simply the most common sign of sleep apnea is when breathing stops for at least 10 seconds. In this write up we will examine some of the other sleep apnea signs.
Drop of Oxygen Level
Since apnea is characterized as an absolute cessation of airflow or significant reduction, which results in at least a 4% decline in the oxygen saturation level within blood. This occurs as a direct consequence of decline in the transfer rate of oxygen through the blood at the time breathing ceases. This is one of the most significant signs of sleep apnea.
Sleep Disturbance
During the onset of sleep apnea, sleep is severely disrupted. Occasionally, it may also be possible that the individual suffering from sleep apnea may wake up fully. However, it may also be possible that the individual may come out from a deep level sleep and enter into a more trivial level sleep. This is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea, and this is why it is measured during sleep.
Dry Throat and Morning Headache
These are also common signs. When you have sleep apnea and wake in the morning you will probably have a dry throat. This can be very uncomfortable and become a hindrance in trying to breathe. A morning headache will also add to a person feeling tired after a nights sleep.
Fatigue and Daytime Sleepiness
Since people having sleep apnea experience an impaired sleeping pattern in which they are unable to reach deep, soothing sleep, they suffer from extreme fatigue and daytime sleepiness throughout the day. Their sleep is typically accompanied by loud snoring along with snorting sounds especially during late night.
Lack of Oxygen
One of the most common signs of sleep apnea includes a sharp decline in the oxygen level, which poses a serious threat to cardiovascular system. Since the cardiovascular system has to work more efficiently and an effortful manner in order to supply the adequate amount of oxygen to all tissues, it leads to the development of high blood pressure, eventually increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke.
Both Lisa Davies & Rudy Watkins 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.
Lisa Davies has sinced written about articles on various topics from Babies, Home and Breastfeeding. For more information about the and general. Lisa Davies's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
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