Are you often sleepy during the day? Do you snore a lot during the night? Do you wake up with a dry mouth and sore throat? If yes, you may have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea, a type of sleeping disorder, occurs when your breathing is briefly interrupted while you sleep. These breathing pauses can last 10 to 20 seconds and can happen over a hundred times each night. These pauses not only keep you awake, but they also disrupt your sleeping rhythm, which causes you to spend less time in deep, restorative sleep.
Sleep apnea can affect people of all ages and genders. However, males, people over the age of 50, and African Americans, Hispanics, or Pacific Islander males are more at risk than others. People who are overweight or smoke are also at a greater risk. Sleep apnea can be passed on from generation to generation. Allergies and nasal congestion can also lead to sleep apnea.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the soft tissue in the back of your throat relaxes and blocks your airway. This blockage often causes loud snoring. Central sleep apnea, which is less common, occurs when your brain fails to properly send signals to the muscles that control breathing. This results in interrupted breathing. The third type of sleep apnea, or complex sleep apnea, is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.
Image Source: Tim Kitchen
One symptom of sleep apnea is constantly waking up. Other major symptoms include choking, gasping, or pauses in breathing while sleeping. Dry mouth, sore throat, or headaches may also occur in the morning. Finally, consistent sleepiness and attention problems during the day may be signs that you have sleep apnea.
Maintaining a healthy weight is one way to prevent sleep apnea. People who are overweight have extra tissue located behind their throat, which can fall down and inhibit airflow. Avoiding smoking is another preventative measure as smoking may interrupt breathing by causing inflammation and fluid retention in your throat. Furthermore, having a consistent sleep cycle is key because it facilitates better sleep and relaxation, which reduces sleep apnea symptoms.
Ways to treat sleep apnea include sleeping on your side, using breathing strips, and performing throat exercises that open up nasal passages. If sleep apnea persists, more serious treatments include surgery to open up airways or using a Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) mask that provides a constant stream of air to improve breathing while sleeping.
Persistent sleepiness, loud snoring, and interrupted breathing may be signs of sleep apnea. Ultimately, if you feel that you’re not getting proper sleep, you should get checked out by your primary care doctor!
Featured Image Source: Snore by R Sio
