Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

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Sleep apnea is considered a very serious sleep disorder that impacts millions of people. However, a bulk of sleep apnea cases are left undiagnosed, and therefore, untreated, which leaves these individuals sleep deprived and at a much larger risk of various other health conditions like diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. There are several kinds of sleep apnea; therefore, it can be difficult to determine if this is what is causing your sleeping problems. Here are a few symptoms of sleep apnea, so you can determine if you should visit a specialist.

Breathing Pauses During Sleep

Sleep apnea is a result of frequent stops in one's breathing while asleep. Many people will experience these pauses of breathing as many as 30 times an hour (sometimes more), and they will not breathe normally until they wake up. This can cause a serious disruption in their sleeping pattern. Most of the time, though, the person sleeping has no idea what is going on; however, a partner or roommate may notice and be able to inform you of the breathing pauses.

Snoring

Another potential sign of sleep apnea is loud and persistent snoring. Many individuals who snore, though, do not have a sleep disorder; however, the restricted airways that are associated with sleep apnea can result in snoring. Individuals with sleep apnea are more likely to sleep with their mouths open to breathe, which can result in snoring, filmy teeth, and dry mouth. If you have been told that you snore loudly each night or wake up with an excessively dry mouth every morning, you may have a sleep disorder.

Waking Up Exhausted

If your sleep is disrupted hundreds of different times throughout the night, it makes perfect sense that you would wake up incredibly tired. If you are consistently tired and unrested, despite going to bed early and spending seven to nine hours each night in bed, there is something that is disrupting your shut-eye. While there are other types of sleep disorders that can potentially contribute to your sleepiness during the day, the most likely culprit is sleep apnea.

If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, there is a good chance that you are suffering from the sleep disorder of sleep apnea. It is imperative that you visit a specialist as soon as possible for an examination and diagnosis so that if you do not have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea you can begin the necessary treatment sooner rather than later before other health conditions start to develop.

For more information, contact a sleep apnea surgeon.

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