Robert Are you experiencing shortness of breath several times in the night while sleeping? Well, this can be a serious sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is a condition where the breathing of a person gets interrupted while he is sleeping. Many people don’t think of it as a problem.
If this condition is left untreated, a person might stop breathing frequently during sleep. This might occur many times. Our body gets most of the oxygen while we are sleeping. If you suffer from sleep apnea, your brain and rest of your body might not get enough, oxygen which can cause serious health issues.
Many people do not know about this condition and ignore it. Around 15% of the adult population in Australia suffer from sleep disorders and most of them don’t get tested. To find your nearest test store for sleep apnea test, visit: https://www.bloomsthechemist.com.au/sleep-apnoea-testing
Types of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is classified into three types, obstructive sleep apnea, complex sleep apnea syndrome and central sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA – This is the common form of the disorder where the throat muscles give way while sleeping. This leads to blockage of the airway.
Central sleep apnea (CSA) – When the respiratory control center of our body is instable, the brain fails to send signals to our muscles to breathe. This leads to a shortage of breath in central sleep apnea.
Complex sleep apnea syndrome – This is the combination of central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.
When do you know if you have sleep apnea?
The following are the symptoms:
- Breathlessness during sleep reported by another person
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia
- Irritability
- Snoring
- Difficulty in focusing while awake
- Morning headache
What happens when I have sleep apnea?
It is a serious condition that can lead to other problems. As it is a condition that will cause a lack of oxygen content in your blood, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, depression, Headache, fatigue, strokes, diabetes, and worsening of the symptoms of ADHD if you have them.
Fatigue during daytime can put you at higher risk of having accidents at the workplace and on road. It will also mess with your performance. You are at a higher risk of heart attack and hypertension due to a lack of oxygen in your blood.
If you have sleep apnea, you must treat it before you get surgery for other problems. Breathing problems during surgery will lead to complications. It also causes liver problems.
Are you at risk of Sleep apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – If you are an alcoholic, a smoker, an obese, a middle-aged man, have thicker neck, narrow airway, a family history, nasal congestion and other medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, hormonal diseases, etc, you might be at risk of having OSA.
Central Sleep Apnea – You might be at risk of having CSA if you are a middle-aged man with heart disorders, using narcotic pain medications, and have had a stroke.
