Sleep apnea can be the bane of a good night's sleep, and most times, you don't even suspect you could have it until your spouse or another member of your household lets you know you've been snoring. But, what exactly is sleep apnea — and how do you find out if you have it when you live alone?
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is, simply put, a disorder in which a person's breathing is interrupted as they sleep. This interruption can last anywhere from one second up to 20 seconds, depending on the cause and the severity, and can happen more than once each night. The telltale sign is that once breathing starts again, the person lets out a loud snore or snort.
There are two different types of sleep apnea. The first one, known as obstructive apnea, happens when the muscles of the patient's throat relax and block the airways, essentially making it impossible for the person to take a breath. This is the most common form of sleep apnea. The second, less common type is called central apnea and is caused by the brain's failure to send out the signal to breathe. In a few words, central sleep apnea happens when your body "forgets" to breathe because the brain didn't let it know to do so.
Suffering from sleep apnea can go from bothersome to dangerous, where patients can go so far as to suffering from heart failure and death because of it. This is why the professionals at Bloom Dental of Arlington are happy to help you get a firm diagnosis and the help you need to control your sleep apnea.
What Are the Main Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Two of the main symptoms of sleep apnea are usually observed by a patient's spouse or other family member and appear in the form of loud snoring or visible episodes of interrupted breathing as the patient sleeps. These symptoms should raise the alarm enough for the patient to seek medical health. What happens when you live alone, and there isn't anybody around to detect these worrisome signs?
How Can I Tell If I Have Sleep Apnea?
While the main signs of sleep apnea are snoring, waking up multiple times at night and observed interrupted breathing, if you live alone, there are several other signs you should look for before seeking medical attention. Here are the most important and noticeable signs to look out for:
Feeling sleepy during the day. Most times, feeling excessively tired during the day can be a sign of sleep apnea. This happens when your interrupted breathing doesn't allow you to reach the stage of sleep that helps you rest deeply so you can wake up refreshed in the morning.
Waking up abruptly while gasping or choking. When your breathing is interrupted and restarted, you may wake up suddenly gasping for air.
Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth. This happens when your airways dry out from the inability to create the necessary moisture they produce when you are breathing correctly.
Waking up to a painful headache. When your breathing is interrupted, oxygen doesn't reach your brain, which produces a headache when you wake up.
If you are having one or more of these symptoms don't hesitate to get medical help. Our experts are willing to provide the treatment you need to get an accurate diagnosis and get your sleep apnea under control before it threatens your life. For more information about our sleep apnea dental devices, reach out to our team today!