All You Need To Know About Sleep Apnea
Do you ever wake yourself up gasping because you weren’t breathing? What about your ugly experience of awakening with a dry mouth? While there are other possibilities, the issue might be a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Many people experience this once in a while, leading to more complications if left untreated. Most people with sleep apnea find it hard to stay focused during the day.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing interruptions while you are asleep. This becomes a severe problem as it can linger throughout the night.
Here are the two types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea
Most people who suffer from sleep apnea experience this type, which is why it is usually considered the most common form of sleep apnea. Aside from the fact that anybody can experience this, adults who are obese are prone to experiencing sleep apnea. What usually causes Obstruction Sleep Apnea is airway blockage. This occurs due to the relaxation of the back throat muscles.
Central sleep apnea
At times, the brain fails to send adequate signals to the muscles that control breathing. This causes you to wake up gasping because you literally aren’t breathing. Some individuals can have both types of sleep apnea simultaneously.
Symptoms
People find it difficult to differentiate between the two types, obstructive and central sleep apnea, because their symptoms are very similar. Individuals suffering from sleep apnea will most likely experience any of the following symptoms:
- Gasping during sleep
- Loud snoring
- Abnormal breathing pattern during sleep
- Insomnia
- Groggy feeling during the day
- Headaches, particularly in the morning
When to see your doctor?
Each of these symptoms might be an indication of another problem entirely. However, If these symptoms persist, you might want to consider going for a sleep study by visiting a doctor or sleep specialist.
How can I treat sleep apnea?
- CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure machine, has proven to be effective in treating sleep apnea. The machine helps keep the airway open to prevent blockage.
- There are dental appliances purposely made to treat sleep apnea. These mouth guards also help position the jaw to ensure the airway remains open.
- A surgical operation can be done to get rid of soft tissue at the back of the throat.