Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when the tongue or other soft tissues in and near the mouth obstruct the airway during sleep. It is a serious health issue and has many different possible causes. It can be really dangerous if left undiagnosed and untreated. There are three different types of sleep apnea- obstructive, central and mixed. But obstructive sleep apnea is the most widespread.
Symptoms include snoring loudly and feeling tired even after a full night's sleep. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
Here are the most common symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Loud or frequent snoring
- Silent pauses in breathing
- Choking or gasping sounds
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Insomnia
- Morning headaches
- Nocturia (waking during the night to go to the bathroom)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Irritability
Sleep apnea patients are at least a little overweight but sleep apnea can occur in slim people too. Sleep apnea can often be caused by excess fatty tissues that become built up in the neck and throat. It may lead to restrictions on airflow as the upper respiratory system's pathway is narrowed or pinched off during sleep. As you know some people can be genetically predisposed to having a narrower throat or may have an enlarged tongue that falls back into their airway. If your family has a history of OSA you are more likely to have it yourself.
Depending on the cause and the level of apnea, there are different methods of treatment to get cure of this problem. The most effective treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) that helps to continuously blow air down your throat and keeps your airways open while you are sleeping. It is also recommended to get a sleep device that opens your airway while you sleep and relieves the effects of sleep apnea.
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