Do You Have Sleep Apnea?
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea.
The main types of sleep apnea are:
Obstructive sleep apnea: the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax
Central sleep apnea: which occurs when your brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
Complex sleep apnea syndrome: also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, which occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have. The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include the following.
- Loud snoring
- Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep, which would be reported by another person
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Awakening with a dry mouth
- Morning headache
- Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Difficulty paying attention while awake
- Irritability
The Effects of Sleep Apnea On The Body
Sleep apnea does more than make you sleepy, though. When left untreated, it can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and other long-term health risks.
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