Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:
Treatment is Available
Sleep apnea is a common disorder, so if you have any of these symptoms, talk
with your doctor. Diagnostic testing for sleep apnea is done at night, during your
regular sleeping
hours, so that disruption to your schedule is kept to a minimum. Treatment is simple and effective.
Snoring is annoying, but sleep apnea is serious. Although snoring is disruption for those around you while
you sleep, the quietness of a sleep apnea episode
can be very frightening.
During an episode of apnea, you stop breathing for a short period of time because the tissue in the back
of your throat has relaxed to the point that it
completely or partially blocks you airway. The apnea
episode usually concludes with an arousal, a snort, or a gasp as you resume regular breathing for a short
period of time.
This cycle of apnea, arousal and snorting repeats itself throughout the night resulting in a feeling of
tiredness the following day. you may not realize that you
have been "waking up" all night, but your
body sure does!
Untreated, sleep apnea can result in serious health problems, such as high blood pressure, stroke or heart
attack.
Sleep apnea does not "go away" or cure itself. Its effects may be lessened if you sleep on your side, lose
weight and avoid sedatives at nighttime. However, in
many cases, medical intervention is necessary
and is usually quite simple. Nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is an effective, non-surgical
treatment for sleep apnea. For mild cases of apnea or snorting, a surgical procedure may be an option.
