You’re constantly exhausted, your partner frequently complains about your loud snoring, and you wake up with morning headaches. Are these just quirks you have to live with or something more serious?
Sleep apnea affects millions of people, yet many don't realize they have it. Loud snoring is common, but several other warning signs indicate that to can be impacting your health in ways you never imagined.
What Is Sleep Apnea? A Brief Overview
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and occurs when the muscles in your throat relax during sleep, temporarily blocking your airway. Your brain notices the lack of oxygen and wakes you to restart breathing.
Sign 1: Chronic Daytime Fatigue, Even After a Full Night's Sleep
Frequent breathing interruptions prevent you from reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep your body needs. You might think you're sleeping through the night, but your brain is working overtime to keep you breathing, leaving you feeling drained the next day.
Sign 2: Morning Headaches
Chronic headaches upon waking typically occur because of the drop in oxygen levels and increase in carbon dioxide that happens when breathing stops during sleep. Patients often describe the sensation as pressure-like, which typically improves within a few hours of awakening.
Sign 3: Waking Up Gasping, Choking, or Short of Breath
The most alarming sign is suddenly waking up feeling like you can't breathe, which is your body's response to a blocked airway. These episodes can be frightening for you and your sleep partner, but usually resolve quickly once you're awake and breathing normally; however, they're a clear sign that something is seriously disrupting your sleep.
Sign 4: Irritability, Mood Swings, or Difficulty Concentrating
Without quality sleep, you might experience irritability, mood swings, problems managing stress, or concentration and memory. You might have difficulty focusing at work or feel mentally foggy throughout the day because your brain isn't getting the restorative sleep it needs.
Sign 5: Frequent Nighttime Urination (Nocturia)
Repeated breathing interruptions and the stress on your body can lead to an increase in urine production during sleep. Also, the effort your body makes to restart breathing can stimulate the need to urinate.
Why Recognizing These Signs Matters: The Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is linked to several serious health complications:
- High blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats
- Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
- Depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline
- Weakened immune system
- Increased risk of accidents due to fatigue
What to Do If You Recognize These Signs
A sleep study by a qualified healthcare provider can diagnose sleep apnea and determine its severity. Treatment options range from lifestyle changes and oral appliances to CPAP therapy.
At Anderson Dental, we offer safe, effective sleep apnea treatment in Champaign, IL, that may not involve a CPAP mask. If you're experiencing signs of sleep apnea, schedule an appointment today to see how we can help you.