Sleep apnea is a condition associated with a serious sleeping disorder. Someone suffering from sleep apnea may instantly stop breathing during sleep and gasp for breath before catching breathe. This causes many suffering from this condition to wake up. Some snore loudly during sleep and that could be a sign of insomnia.
There are a few types of sleep apnea which include;
-Central sleep apnea.
This disorder comes by when the brain fails to send the right signals to the muscles that normally regulate breathing.
-Obstructive sleep apnea.
This condition occurs when the throat muscles relax and cause the snoring effect.
-Complex sleep apnea syndrome.
This condition arises when someone has both central and obstructive sleep apnea.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
For central and obstructive sleep apnea, the symptoms are quite similar.
They include the following;
-Feeling irritated
-Loss of memory and concentration
-Feeling sleepy during the day
– Having headaches in the morning
-Snoring loudly
-Find yourself Gasping for breath during sleep
At what point should one see a doctor?
When one is snoring loudly, it could be an indication that there is a underlying serious issue. However, this does not mean that a person who snores suffers from sleep apnea. It is important to seek medical attention once the symptoms become consistent. Ensure you discuss with your doctor about your sleep problems that leave with irritability, sleepiness, and fatigue.
What are the causes of sleep apnea?
For obstructive sleep apnea, it comes by when the muscles lying back at the backside of your throat relax. These muscles play the role of supporting the palate which is soft, the uvula, the tonsils, also the tongue underside, and the sidewalls of the throat. A good dentist in Millburn NJ will help you cure your sleep apnea.
When these muscles relax, the airway narrows and even closes once you breathe in. you will not be able to get enough air which consequently lowers the level of oxygen in your blood. The brain automatically senses your inability to breathe and this causes one to instantly wake up in an attempt to reopen the airway. Normally, this awakening is short-lived in that one seldom remembers such an occurrence the next morning. One may gasp for breath, choke or snort. This is a pattern that can re-occur five times in an hour making it impossible for you to sleep deeply and rest as it should be.
For central sleep apnea, being a less common type of sleep apnea, it comes in when the brain fails to transmit the signals to the muscles responsible for regulating the breathing system. What this means is that you will fail to make an effort to breathe for a specific period of time which will be kind of a pause. One will suddenly wake up with shortness of breath and lose sleep. One will have interrupted sessions of sleep which will leave them tired.
One should understand that sleep apnea can affect everyone regardless of age. However, there are certain factors that can increase the chances of getting this sleep apnea condition. For instance, those who smoke can be at a higher risk. Also, those who are into alcohol to great extents may also suffer from sleep apnea at a certain stage in their life.