The most prominent indication is fatigue during the daytime
Sleep apnea is an extremely common sleep disorder that has a direct impact on more than 12 millions Americans and is similar to adult diabetes.
The most commonly encountered type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea, which like the name implies is caused by an obstruction of the airways that hinders breathing. There is a third type of sleep apnea, known as central sleep apnea where the brain is unable to regulate breathing properly during sleep. In addition, some suffer from mixed sleep apnea that is a mix of central and obstructive types of the disorder.
Sleep apnea symptoms can be seen at any point in time, and although they are typically observed in overweight males older than forty however, they can be seen both in females and males at any age, and are becoming more prevalent among children.
The most evident indication of sleep apnea can be the snoring that is an extremely difficult sign to recognize by yourself. It is more likely to be identified by your sleeping partner. Snoring is a result of many factors, and the fact that you are it isn’t an indication that you suffer from sleep apnea. The majority of sleep apnea sufferers however sleep soundly.
The most prominent indication is fatigue during the daytime. Sleep apnea can cause your breathing to cease often during sleep. The body’s response to this is to wake you up just enough to allow you to begin breathing but not enough to make you conscious that you’re awake. The result is that your sleep is fragile and constantly interrupted, and you don’t get the restful sleep your body needs to replenish its batteries. In the end in time you notice that you’re becoming more exhausted and sleepy throughout the day.
If sleep apnea goes untreated, its effects begin to show and additional symptoms will begin to manifest. This could include headaches (especially at the beginning of the morning) as well as irritability, and perhaps depression. You might also notice that you’re beginning to gain weight.
One less apparent sign of sleep apnea could be an increased blood pressure, which could lead to a variety of cardiovascular issues. It is possible to detect when you’re among the increasing numbers of people who are now monitoring their blood pressure on a regular basis at home, but it will not be noticed until you undergo a regular physical examination at the office of your doctor.
Another sign is of growing difficulty in learning and issues with memory retention. It’s not something you can easily identify yourself, however others might observe that you aren’t as fast in your learning as you were previously.
In the end, sufferers with sleep apnea may notice the loss of sexual function and can cause impotence.
With many ailments, the each symptom can indicate any condition. If you begin to notice these symptoms forming together, then you ought to think about talking to your doctor and thinking about getting tested for sleep apnea.
A word of caution however. Sleep apnea test will usually involve referral to a specialist, and preferably one certified with the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM) which could involve an overnight sleep test in a sleep lab or at your home. The cost of such tests can be more than $1,000, and you should consult your insurance provider prior to signing up to a plan of sleep apnea examination.