Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually can’t detect the condition during routine office visits. Also, no blood test can help diagnose the condition.
Most people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member or bed partner might be the first to notice signs of sleep apnea.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. In this condition, the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. This causes shallow breathing or breathing pauses.
When you try to breathe, any air that squeezes past the blockage can cause loud snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in people who are overweight, but it can affect anyone. For example, small children who have enlarged tonsil tissues in their throats may have obstructive sleep apnea.
Central sleep apnea is a less common type of sleep apnea. This disorder occurs if the area of your brain that controls your breathing doesn’t send the correct signals to your breathing muscles. As a result, you’ll make no effort to breathe for brief periods.
Central sleep apnea can affect anyone. However, it’s more common in people who have certain medical conditions or use certain medicines. Central sleep apnea can occur with obstructive sleep apnea or alone. Snoring typically doesn’t happen with central sleep apnea.
Loud and chronic (ongoing) snoring. Pauses may occur in the snoring. Choking or gasping may follow the pauses. The snoring usually is loudest when you sleep on your back; it might be less noisy when you turn on your side. You might not snore every night. Over time, however, the snoring can happen more often and get louder. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
Sleepiness during the day, at work, or while driving. You may find yourself rapidly falling asleep during the quiet moments of the day when you’re not active.
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that requires long-term management. Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea in many people.
Idiopathic Hypersomnia can be a debilitating condition, but with the right treatment, it can be managed. Discover the symptoms, causes, and treatment options in this informative guide.
You snore. You feel tired during the day. Or, you have to drag yourself out of bed in the morning because you stay up so late. But, do you know if this means you have sleep apnea? If any of these applies to you, here are 7 signs that you’re having a sleep apnea episode.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for sleep apnea, but many people struggle to consistently use the equipment. Noncompliance with CPAP use can lead to a number of negative health consequences, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
We are glad to announce reopening of our Cape Coral office effective 2/8/2023. Please contact 239-437-6670 to schedule a visit today.
This website stores cookies on your computer so that we can give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.