Do you believe you might have sleep apnea?
You may be asking yourself, “What Is Sleep Apnea?” It’s a serious condition that disrupts breathing during sleep and can lead to other health issues if untreated. A range of symptoms can indicate sleep apnea. Some patients experience several symptoms, while others are unaware of their developing health risks. Dr. Harper will discuss all aspects of your lifestyle, medical history, and any changes you notice in your daily quality of life. He has the expertise to treat obstructive sleep apnea in Hampton Roads, VA.
Understanding your risk factors and the common signs of a sleep disorder can mean the difference between life and death. Risks increase with anyone with underlying health issues, such as heart disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Can Include:
- Feeling tired even after a full night of sleep
- Needing coffee or caffeine to wake up or to get through the day
- Experiencing consistent headaches in the morning
- Snoring loudly and frequently
- Making choking or snorting sounds during sleep
- Stopping breathing during sleep
- Depression or irritability
- Unexplained weight gain or trouble losing weight
- High blood pressure
- Falling asleep while driving
- Menopausal or premenopausal symptoms
- Sore throat, dry mouth
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Irregular heartbeat
- Insomnia, difficulty getting to sleep
Signs of Sleep Apnea FAQs
Many things can warn you that you may have sleep apnea. Learn more by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
What foods cause sleep apnea?
No specific foods directly cause sleep apnea, but a diet high in calories, unhealthy fats, and sugars can contribute to weight gain, a major risk factor for the condition. Additionally, consuming alcohol and heavy meals, especially close to bedtime, can relax the muscles of the throat and worsen sleep apnea symptoms. A balanced diet that promotes a healthy weight reduces the risk and severity of sleep apnea.
Does sleep apnea get worse with age?
Yes, sleep apnea often gets worse with age. As people get older, changes in muscle tone, including in the throat, can make the airway more prone to collapse during sleep. Additionally, age-related weight gain, changes in body fat distribution, and an increased likelihood of other medical conditions can exacerbate sleep apnea.
What is the main cause of sleep apnea?
The main cause of sleep apnea is the obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, which can be due to relaxed throat muscles, excess throat tissue, or a narrow airway. In obstructive sleep apnea, this blockage leads to pauses in breathing or shallow breaths. Central sleep apnea, a less common type, is caused by a failure of the brain to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
How do you know if sleep apnea is serious?
Sleep apnea is considered serious if it leads to frequent and prolonged pauses in breathing during sleep, resulting in significant drops in blood oxygen levels. Serious symptoms include excessive daytime drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, and heart problems. On the professional scale, sleep apnea is serious if you have 30 or more apnea episodes per hour at night. Normal people have around five possible apneas an hour.
How long can you live with untreated sleep apnea?
Lack of treatment for sleep apnea can reduce a person’s lifespan by 12-15 years. Living with untreated sleep apnea can significantly impact your health and lifespan. Without treatment, the condition can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes, which can shorten life expectancy. The severity of these risks depends on individual factors and the presence of other health conditions, but untreated sleep apnea can have life-threatening consequences over time.
What organs does sleep apnea affect?
Sleep apnea primarily affects the heart and lungs by causing repeated drops in oxygen levels and disrupted sleep. This can lead to cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Additionally, the condition can impact the brain by causing excessive daytime drowsiness and cognitive impairments. Over time, untreated sleep apnea can also contribute to metabolic problems and affect overall organ function.
What Is Causing Me To Snore While I Sleep?
Not long ago, people would laugh or simply become annoyed and sleep in another room if they had to deal with a loud snorer. You rarely see comedy movies or television shows that portray snoring as funny. That is because we have learned that snoring often means that there is a much deeper medical condition causing the issue. If you are a snorer, these reasons can cause you to snore:
Your Age: Most of us already know that when you get older, your body begins to lose muscle tone. This requires your body to put more effort into simple exercises such as sleeping. Your tongue and throat muscles will also lose some muscle definition.
Your Weight: If you are overweight, you are likely to be a snorer. This is due to the excess fatty tissues that build up inside your throat, on top of little or poor muscle tone. This will cause heavy and even violent snoring.
Your Bad Habits: If you are a heavy smoker or drinker, chances are you are also a common snorer. Drinking alcohol before bed is a factor in regular snoring. Alcohol increases the relaxation of your muscles, which will disrupt airflow, causing you to snore. Conversely, smoking will cause irritation and inflammation to your nasal passages and throat muscles, disrupting airflow and causing you to snore.
Your Sleep Posture: Most people who sleep on their backs are snorers. The tissues in the back of your throat can easily fold over when you sleep on your back. The collapsing of the soft tissue causes blockage of your airway and snoring. If you snore on your back, try sleeping on your side. This may eliminate your snoring, helping you get much better sleep.
The Dangers of Ignoring Sleep Apnea Symptoms
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, you must get help immediately. Untreated sleep apnea has serious health effects. Sleep apnea involves the muscles in the back of your throat collapsing and blocking your airway for periods. Even when you think you’ve rested well, how you feel the next day can tell you otherwise. You’ll have consequences from both sleep deprivation and a lack of oxygen.
Not getting enough air overnight can cause you to wake up with intense headaches. The longer you continue this pattern, the more severe the effects become. You get tired throughout the day, leading to gaps in memory and decreased cognitive abilities.
When you have untreated sleep apnea, you’re more at risk for various other serious health problems. In particular, it can target your vascular system. You’re at a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and an irregular heart rate. Over time, it can increase your chances of strokes and degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Your immune system isn’t as good, so you’re more prone to infections and other contagious conditions.
When you’re sleep-deprived, your daily activities can become dangerous. You’re more likely to get in a car crash than those without the condition. You may have severe exhaustion and fall asleep behind the wheel. Your brain is foggier, and you have a decreased reaction time and may not be able to recognize dangerous situations as clearly.
There are social and emotional consequences, too. You’re more likely to have mental conditions like depression and anxiety. It’s hard to keep healthy relationships when you’re prone to mood swings and can’t concentrate. If you live with someone, the relationship can become strained if your snoring also causes them to lose sleep.
Schedule A Sleep Study
Are you concerned that you might be at risk for a sleep disorder or have regularly experienced any of the symptoms mentioned above? Discuss your concerns with Dr. Harper at your next routine dental care visit, or schedule a consultation online. Dr. Harper will provide free sleep apnea screening, including a discussion of your medical history.
If it is determined that you may be suffering from sleep apnea or sleep-disordered breathing, Dr. Harper will work with your regular physician to coordinate care. We work with local specialists to improve your sleep with accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatments. Call Coastal Sleep & TMJ at (757) 600-6535 today.