They make jokes about it in movies, or they may mercilessly tease someone who snores. But sleep apnea, which is sometimes related to snoring, is no joke. People who are unable to get a good night’s sleep often suffer from other health problems as a result. For those who have it, their breathing can come to a complete stop while they are sleeping. This can lead to feelings of extreme fatigue, mood swings, and even problems in their relationship. If you learn more about curing sleep apnea by understanding the symptoms, complications, and other aspects of this disorder, the better you’ll be able to cope with it.
Sleep Apnea Explained
With sleep apnea, your breathing is constantly being interrupted while you are sleeping. These interruptions can last anywhere between 10 to 20 seconds per episode and can be repeated all through the night. When the body stops breathing, the natural reaction is to wake up, thus disrupting your restorative sleep. As a result you are unable to get a good night’s sleep. Although you may not be aware of the cycle while sleeping, the symptoms are often apparent the next day: daytime sleepiness, slower reflexes, inability to concentrate, and higher risk of accidents. It can also lead to other health problems like heart disease, liver problems, and weight gain. It is, therefore, advisable to learn more about curing sleep apnea.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Not all kinds of sleep apnea are the same. The most common type is OSA, which stands for obstructive sleep apnea. This occurs when the soft tissue found at the back portion of the throat relaxes and blocks your airway. This type of sleep apnea is often related to snoring.
Central sleep apnea, sometimes called CSA, affects the central nervous system and happens when the brain ceases to send the necessary signal that enable the various muscles to regulate breathing. This type of sleep apnea rarely results in snoring.
Finally, there is the complex sleep apnea, in which both CSA and OSA are combined.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
Establishing the presence of this disorder is often difficult since the obvious signs appear when you are asleep. However, there are several symptoms that can appear in the daytime that will reveal this may have become a problem. Some symptoms to look for are loud and chronic snoring every night, choking, gasping for air during sleep, pauses where the breathing completely stops, waking up at night and having difficulty catching your breath, and excess fatigue in the daytime.
Other less obvious symptoms may include dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up, waking up in the middle of the night, fitful sleep, frequent bathroom visits at night, difficulty concentrating, moodiness, irritability, and depression.
While snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, it’s important to understand that not all people who snore have this condition. Conversely, not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. The best way to identify the problem is to take careful notice of how you feel each day. The usual kind of snoring during the night will not leave you feeling exhausted during the day.
When you learn more about curing sleep apnea and understand about this unpleasant disorder the better your chances of catching it early and getting the type of treatment you need to relieve your symptoms.
