Obstructive sleep apnea is a widespread medical condition that affects several people. It is a probably severe sleep condition which effects you to stop and start breathing while sleeping continually. Those pauses can last from seconds to minutes and reduce the amount of oxygen you have in your body. Finally, this can have dangerous results to your body and overall health.
Although there are multiple types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common. A variety of reasons causes it; however, obesity is a significant risk factor. During sleep, the tissues in our throat relax and cause our airways to collapse. That leads to the pauses in breathing. Obesity too contributes to obstructive sleep apnea by adding extra weight to the neck. That adds pressure to the airway and can aggravate the obstruction of the airways.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a recurrent illness that can cause other severe medical difficulties. Because of this, it is essential to know how to identify sleep apnea signs and when to seek medical advice.
Snoring
A multitude of reasons causes snoring. However, extremely loud and constant snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. When our airways reduce in the body, this causes the air to vibrate the soft tissues of the neck as we breathe. This turbulent airflow is passing through a narrowed airway and the vibration of the muscles, lead to snoring. In an individual with obstructive sleep apnea, our airways are built up, and this leads to the snoring that may be having your significant other awake at night. The snoring is also usually worse when sleeping on your back, which causes increased pressure on the neck. If this is the problem, there are several snoring aids available, and it is vital to consult your specialist.
Snoring Pauses and Gasps
Not only is snoring a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea but pauses in snoring followed by a loud gasp is also an alarming sign. These seconds of silence may be a time where your airway collapses from the obstructive sleep apnea, and you are not breathing. It makes your oxygen levels to go down and reduces the oxygen, a vital nutrient, in the body. The reduced level of oxygen and pauses in breathing tells your brain you need air. The need for air then triggers your body to take a deep breath or gasps and wake you up.
Drowsiness During the Day
Fatigue and feeling overly exhausted throughout the day can be a sign of many different things. It can manifest by insomnia, stress, depression, caffeine use, medication use and other causes. One probable reason is obstructive sleep apnea. Individuals who undergo obstructive sleep apnea are incapable of getting a pleasant and quiet night’s sleep. The pauses in breathing and wheezing for air forces the body to wake up and prevent REM sleep, the most profound sleep required for a restful sleep.
Concentration Loss
To efficiently focus, it is essential to get proper sleep at night. While sleeping, the body is always working to release particular hormones and keep memories. Without deep sleep, the brain cannot store memories as efficiently, and the constant drowsiness can make it difficult to concentrate and focus on particular tasks during the day. The change and lack of hormones released at night can also cause changes in mood and overall irritation.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is also an issue with adults and elderly patients. It can be caused and deteriorate by some reasons. It is important to treat high blood tension or the underlying cause of high blood pressure to decrease your chance of artery disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Obstructive sleep apnea causes pauses in breathing, which finally causes a decrease in the oxygen in your blood. Oxygen is a vital nutrient needed by every organ in your body. When your body senses a diminished oxygen level, the blood vessels respond by getting smaller. It causes your blood pressure to go up, and without treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea, blood pressure will continue high.
Sore Throat and Dry Mouth
Obstructive sleep apnea treatment causes people to breathe through their mouths while they sleep. Typically, we breathe through our nose, which helps humidify the air we breathe. Opposite to this, when we inhale in our mouths through the night with obstructive sleep apnea, the air stays dry, and this dehydrates the mouth and throat. It can lead to a dry mouth and sore neck if you wake up.