Sleep Apnea

Have you heard of sleep apnea? It is a sleeping disorder where your breathing stops and starts repeatedly. For those who have this condition, it can be potentially serious if not treated. Most people with the problem snore very loudly during the night and after a full night of sleep they often feel tired.

There are two main types of sleep apnea. The first, obstructive sleep apnea, is much more common. It occurs when the throat muscles relax. The second type, central sleep apnea, occurs when a person’s brain does not send the proper signals to the breathing muscles. Although these types are most common, some people also have complex sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea is a combination of the two main types.

The symptoms for both obstructive and central sleep apneas often overlap. However, the following are a list of things that might indicate you have the problem:

• You are excessively tired or sleepy during the day (hypersomnia)
• While you sleep, you snore loudly (usually more in obstructive sleep apnea)
• You will awake abruptly at night and experience shortness of breath (this usually indicates central sleep apnea)
• When you wake up, you have a dry mouth or a sore throat
• You have a headache in the morning
• You also have difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)

A lot of people think that everyone snores. And, they assume that snoring is not a sign of anything that is potentially serious. And while not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, you may consider seeing a doctor, especially if the following relates to you:

* When your snore, it is loud enough to disturb others sleeping around you or yourself.
* While you are sleeping, you awake from shortness of breath.
* During your sleep, you experience intermittent pauses in your breathing.
* During the day, you are overly tired. You may fall asleep working, watching tv, or even driving.

If after visiting with a doctor, you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are several ways to treat the problem. Treatment will obviously depend on the severity of the problem. For some people, they rely on therapy to fix the problem with their breathing. Others have to have reconstructive surgery. If the problem is very mild, certain lifestyle adjustments may be made. Although the process may be lengthy, in the end, you will be rewarded with a better night of sleep!