You do know what “Sleep Apnea” is…right? (Just in case you don’t, I’ll tell you anyway!)
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the upper airway (which includes your nose, nasal cavity, mouth, throat and voice box) becomes blocked repeatedly during sleep which reduces or completely stops your airflow. Sounds pretty dangerous, right? Well, it is! Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that more than 22 million Americans are dealing with right now, with 80% of moderate to severe sleep apnea cases being undiagnosed.
The Sleep Foundation states that the two types of sleep apnea are obstructive and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, also known as simple sleep apnea, occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, despite efforts to breathe. This can cause fragmented sleep and low blood oxygen levels. Central Sleep Apnea occurs when the brain fails to properly control breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is far more common than central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, or simply sleep apnea, can cause fragmented sleep and low blood oxygen levels.
For people with sleep apnea, the combination of disturbed sleep and oxygen starvation may lead to hypertension, heart disease and mood and memory problems. Sleep apnea also increases the risk of drowsy driving.”
Sleep apnea symptoms include: snoring, gasping for air, choking during sleep, daytime fatigue, dry mouth, excessive daytime sleepiness, poor qualify sleep, headaches, trouble concentrating, poor memory, mood changes, and decreased libido.
Many “sleep apnea sufferers” don’t recall their symptoms while sleeping, so it’s usually your bed partner who will witness the experience! If your partner wakes up cranky, it could be one of three reasons:
- Your chronic snoring and choking episodes kept him/her up all night!
- Your partner may have sleep apnea as well!
- They’re mad at you for other reasons, not related to your sleep apnea!
If you experience symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s best you get evaluated by your physician. Being male, overweight, middle aged or older, and having a thick neck circumference are all risk factors for sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. Untreated sleep apnea is also responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. If you have sleep apnea, you tend to be sleepier and lack concentration. As a result, your chances of being in a car accident increase and you are 6 times more likely to die in a car accident. People who drive sleepy are responsible for 100,000 car accidents, 40,000 injuries, and 1,550 deaths annually.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. There are several treatment options available that can be discussed with your physician pending your sleep study results. Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, yet so many people are left undiagnosed and untreated. It is important to be aware of the signs, symptoms, and risks.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone you know who is at risk for sleep apnea, please contact us today! We can answer any questions and inform you on our very easy process of receiving a home sleep test delivered to your home. Please call (888)425-8988 or email our team at info@homesleepllc.com.
