Solve Your Sleep Apnea with the Right Treatment on Time
Feeling excessively tired during the day? Sleep apnea could be affecting your rest. Although many of us think that we had 7-8 hours of proper sleep in the bed, there might be an unknown sleep disorder that you are unaware of.
Let’s explore what sleep apnea is, its symptoms, and its causes to understand the significance of its treatment so that you can visit the sleep apnea center near you without any further delay.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious and commonly seen sleep disorder in an individual, where breathing repeatedly starts and stops. Each pause may last for a few seconds to a few minutes. If individual snores loudly or even after a full night of sleep feels tired, the chances of sleep apnea are at higher risk. This disorder is more commonly prevalent in men than women.
There are 3 major types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – It is the most commonly observed type where the soft tissues of the throat and tongue collapse into the upper airway causing a physical blockage.
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) – It occurs when the brain fails to signal the respiratory system to breathe.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome– It is also recognized as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea or mixed sleep apnea. This condition occurs when an individual suffers from both obstructive and central sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is often a curable sleep disorder. It can ease the symptoms and help to prevent certain heart-related problems and other complications. You are prone to develop diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity if sleep apnea is left untreated.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Many people experience sleep apnea without even knowing that they have it. So let’s have a look at the following symptoms:
- Loud snoring
- Inability to sleep (insomnia)
- Headache in daytime
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Sleepiness during day time (Hypersomnia)
- Shortness of breath
- Initiation of sore throat or a dry mouth during sleep
- Lack of attention
- Feeling lethargic
- Mood swings or depression
What are the causes of sleep apnea?
Knowing that you are at risk of developing sleep apnea can help you decide when to seek treatment. The common risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Obesity
- Aging
- Being male
- Family history of sleep apnea and deviated septum
- Large size of the neck, tonsils, or tongue
- Low-hanging soft palate
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sleeping on your back
Does sleep apnea lead to death if left untreated?
An 18-year study published in the Sleep Journal reported that people with severe sleep apnea had a significantly higher mortality rate when left untreated.
Here’s the good news! It’s possible to reduce your risks significantly if sleep apnea is treated on time.
How to diagnose sleep apnea?
The first step of sleep apnea treatment is undergoing a diagnostic test. Medical professionals use the STOP-BANG score to identify patients at risk of sleep apnea.
STOP-BANG is an acronym that stands for:
- Snoring history
- Tiredness during daytime
- Observed apnea (breathing halts while sleeping)
- High blood pressure
- BMI (Body mass index)
- Age
- Neck circumference
- Male gender
If your STOP-BANG score is high, you will be recommended for a home sleep study or polysomnography.
Seek sleep apnea treatment near you
Don’t let ignorance affect your sleep health! If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with the sleep apnea center near you for a consultation right away. The right treatment at right time can improve sleep-related symptoms and your quality of life.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach for sleep apnea treatment, our team of doctors can offer a multidimensional personalized approach to figure out what works for you.
