Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep. It happens when your airway muscles relax while you sleep, pinching off your airways and preventing your lungs from receiving sufficient air. When this happens, your breathing may be interrupted for anywhere between 10 and 30 seconds until your reflexes kick in and you resume breathing. Untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of serious medical conditions like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure. This is especially dangerous since many people with Valhalla sleep apnea do not even know they have it. Here are five warning signs that could tell you if you have sleep apnea.
Restlessness During Sleep
Sleep apnea is often marked with fitful sleep characterized by tossing, turning, or waking up several times during the night. If you or someone who sleeps next to you realizes you jerk, thrash, or kick in your sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Another sign of this is waking up with disheveled or twisted sheets when you went to sleep in a made bed. That said, sleep apnea is not the only cause of restless sleep. Experts count over 70 sleep disorders that could disrupt your sleep, including insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome. The best way to determine the cause is to get a diagnosis.
Noisy Sleep
Snoring is one of the most tell-tale signs of sleep apnea. While you may not be able to tell if you snore in your sleep, you can ask a loved one to observe you in your sleep. Noisy sleep characterized by gasping, snorting, and snoring could be a sign of obstructed upper airways. That said, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. But, the louder your snoring, the higher the chances you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea-induced snoring is also often punctuated by pauses in your breathing, which can happen several times throughout the night.
Constant Tiredness
If you sleep for enough hours but still wake up feeling tired, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea symptoms like snoring, frequent waking, and restlessness can lower the quality of your sleep. This can leave you unrested and fatigued the following day. Additionally, you may notice you fall asleep when watching TV or reading, are less productive and attentive at work, and are generally more irritable. This poor quality sleep can also affect your immunity and result in illnesses like colds.
Morning Headaches
Poor quality sleep can also cause you to strain, which can cause recurrent headaches in the morning. The constant thrashing and jerking can also contribute to this, leaving you feeling fatigued and weak. Most times, your headache may persist well into the day, further reducing your productivity.
Risk Profile
You may not have the tell-tale symptoms of sleep apnea but still fit the risk profile. If you are obese or overweight, for instance, you should see a sleep specialist to rule out sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Sleep apnea is also more common in men and women going through menopause.
Schedule a Sleep Study with Your Doctor
Sleep apnea can significantly affect your quality of sleep and life and predispose you to potentially fatal medical conditions. By seeking treatment, you can ensure you sleep better, get enough rest, and remain healthier. The best way to determine if you have sleep apnea is to undergo a sleep study. This is an overnight test during which a trained professional monitors your breathing patterns as you sleep. To learn more, contact your doctor and schedule a consultation.