Do You Wake Up Exhausted Each Morning?
People who suffer from chronic health problems sometimes suffer more than necessary because they postpone seeking medical attention. Sometimes they are suffering but decide to wait until they can identify the cause themselves. This could describe many who deal with sleep apnea. About 18 million people suffer from undiagnosed sleep apnea in the United States alone. Could you be one of them?
Quality And Quantity Of Sleep Both Matter
Even if you sleep for several hours, that doesn’t necessarily translate into high sleep quality. When sleep is subjected to frequent interruptions, the cumulative effect can rob you of the most restful part of the sleep cycle. This is because it can take close to an hour to return to that part of the sleep cycle after each interruption. Each subsequent interruption before reaching deep sleep can delay the cycle even further. Those who experience multiple interruptions during the night can find themselves with no restful sleep hours at all. Symptoms can include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Labored breathing
- Grinding teeth
- Obesity
- Daytime drowsiness
- Dry mouth in the morning
- Clenching jaws
- Irritability
- High blood pressure
- Snoring
- Headaches
- Depression
Sometimes people do nothing about their symptoms until they realize how much their health and quality of life may be suffering.
Effects Of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Without treatment, long-term effects of sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, depression, memory problems, weight gain, headaches, impotence, accidents caused by drowsiness and more. In fact, a 2013 Mayo Clinic study found that if you have sleep apnea, the risk of sudden death by cardiac arrest increased by almost twice as much. The most common factors associated with the risk included being 60 or older, having 20 or more apnea episodes every hour during sleep and experiencing 78% or less oxygen saturation while asleep.
Could You Or A Loved One Have Sleep Apnea?
If you or a family member suffers from poor sleep quality and displays any of the symptoms listed above, you could be suffering from sleep apnea. If you think you or someone else may be suffering from sleep apnea and snoring, contact us to make an appointment. We'll help improve the quality of your sleep and your life.
Note: The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
