Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder which is characterized by pauses and/or abnormally low respiratory effort during sleep. There are three forms, called "central," "obstructive," and "complex." Central sleep apnea occurs when an individual has an involuntary lack of respiratory effort during sleep, while obstructive, as it sounds, happens because there is a physical obstacle to proper inhalation. Complex is some combination of these two factors.
As you read this description, you would think that one would be immediately aware of an interruption in normal breathing, but the truth is that symptoms can go undetected for several decades before diagnosis occurs, though serious symptoms like ongoing daytime sleepiness are almost always present. Usually the disorder is detected by someone else--like a spouse--witnessing the respiratory disruption while the affected individual sleeps.
Definitive diagnosis happens at specialized sleep apnea centers, where an individual is monitored overnight and their breathing professionally measured by a variety of equipment. If you decide to investigate a possible sleep apnea diagnosis, you will also be administered a few other tests to determine your reaction times, which will be impaired by your lack of quality sleep.
But fatigue and a deficiency of restful sleep can have an array of causes. So how can you more accurately recognize potential apnea symptoms? Let's go over a few key clues.
If your spouse, roommate, or other witness to your sleeping has reported or complained of your gasping, choking, and/or snoring, you could potentially be suffering from obstructive apnea. This could be accompanied by significant pauses in breathing.
Do you wake up with a headache and consistently--as in, every single day--feel as exhausted as when we you were preparing for sleep? These signs are definitely indicative of some type of sleep disorder, but if you are unaware of other symptoms, then you likely have sleep apnea.
Gasping and choking typically occur through the mouth, so if you have sleep apnea, you will probably wake up with a dry mouth and "gummy"-feeling front teeth. A less likely, but still possible, symptom could include frequent rising from bed with an urgent need to urinate. This can happen because pressure on the heart from respiratory effort ultimately releases a hormone that affects the kidneys and urinary tract.
Sleep apnea therapy is very effective at reducing or eliminating these problems, allowing you to attain a restful night's sleep, improving concentration, energy, and vision. So if you notice these symptoms, don't hesitate to get help. You don't have to settle for a lifetime of fatigue.
Author Resource:-
There are several options for the treatment of Sleep Apnea including http://www.apneaandsnoring.com/ "> Sleep Apnea therapy options such as CPAP or BPAP, oral appliances, and surgery are just a few options. (http://www.apneaandsnoring.com/)
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 