Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing abruptly stops and starts. If left untreated, the condition can lead to several health issues. If you are concerned about suffering from sleep apnea, here we have mentioned some info concerning its common symptoms and process of diagnoses.
Educate yourself about the condition, and if you think you are experiencing the same symptoms, consult Western Slope Sleep Center for sleep apnea treatment in Montrose, CO today.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is loud snoring. Well, of course, this doesn’t mean everyone who snores loudly has sleep apnea. However, if loud snoring is followed by silent breathing, choking and gasping for air, there are chances the person is suffering from sleep apnea.
The next common symptom of the condition is daytime sleepiness. Since, you didn’t have a peaceful sleep at night, and it is obvious that you will suffer from fatigue and tiredness resulting in daytime sleepiness. Other common symptoms of the condition include –
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Nocturia
- Irritability
- Decreased libido
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
Sleep apnea diagnosis
If you are experience the symptoms of sleep apnea, there are good chances your doctor will recommend going for a sleep apnea test, known as Polysomnogram. It is ideal to conduct the test at a sleep disorder center, but it can even be conducted at home.
The sleep study is a multiple component test, it electronically records your physical activities while you are asleep. The recordings are then analyzed by a sleep specialist. If sleep apnea is detected, some more tests will be conducted to determine its severity and treatment option.
Risk Factors:
- Male gender: Men are more likely to have sleep apnea compared to women. However, women may get sleep apnea with menopause.
- Obesity: You are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea if you are overweight with an BMI of 25 or above.
- High BP: It is very common in people suffering from sleep apnea.
- Large neck size: Individuals with large neck size are at risk of developing sleep apnea. This is because large neck consists of more soft tissues which can block the airway.
- Hereditary: You are at a risk of getting sleep apnea if a family member has it.
Many people live their lives comfortably despite of suffering from sleep apnea. However, it is crucial to understand that when left untreated, sleep apnea can create several health issues. Some of the major ones are – diabetes, health problems, depression, etc. Besides, it adversely affects your overall performance. So, when detected, try to seek treatment immediately.
