There are many symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can cause sufferers to experience the following.
There are different levels of the disorder and these can vary greatly in severity. It is important to understand the different symptoms to help in diagnosing the sleep apnea sufferer and get treatment quickly. These are the most common.
The most common symptom is snoring. People suffering from this disorder are more likely to snore and stay awake during sleep. This can cause them to wake up frequently throughout the night and sometimes fall asleep before their bedtime.
Another symptom is daytime sleepiness or drowsiness during the day. Some sufferers have symptoms that continue all day and take a nap during the day. If you experience this, you may want to consider getting more rest during the day so that you don’t experience feeling sleepy and fatigued.
Often patients will experience frequent shortness of breath. Often this can lead to unconsciousness as they gasp for air during sleep. With severe sleep apnea, this can happen quite often resulting in wakefulness interruptions.
In some cases, the most likely sleep apnea is obstructive apnea. This is when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep resulting in a sufferer waking up several times during the night. Not only is this uncomfortable and inconvenient, but it can lead to even more serious health complications such as stroke.
Other symptoms of sleep apnea include general lethargy or an inability to get started on a project at work. Some sufferers can become very disinterested in working and become unmotivated. This can often lead to depression and increased anxiety which can lead to emotional difficulties.
The other common symptom is that people with the disorder are generally not alert at all during the day. This can be frustrating for everyone. Sufferers must decide if they want to get up and go to work in order to earn money or have a fun time in front of the television.
Having been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a sufferer will usually be referred to a sleep specialist. He or she will run tests and do a physical examination. Then the doctor will make a diagnosis based on the results.
It is important to note that there is no one set of symptoms that will rule out the disorder. So if you believe you have sleep apnea, don’t give up hope. There is help available. There are medications that can help your breathing.
A doctor will run different sleep apnea test and take blood and urine samples to determine the condition and then recommend medication for the patient. As mentioned, different patients react differently to the medications so it is best to discuss this with your doctor. You may need to use both therapy and medication.
