Do you wake up in the middle of the night feeling short of breath? Has your partner told you that you snore or stop breathing during the night? If so, you might be experiencing sleep apnea.
During sleep apnea, the airway closes, preventing air getting through. The person actually stops breathing for between 10-120 seconds. At some point, the brain “wakes up” and realizes it isn’t getting oxygen, and tells the airway to open to let air in. This pattern repeats itself throughout the night, and is characterized by loud snoring that sounds like gasping and snorting.
Because the brain keeps waking up, a person with sleep apnea does not have restful sleep, so will feel tired and irritable throughout the day. Lack of sleep hinders concentration and can lead to more accidents on the road or in the workplace.
Sleep apnea can be extremely dangerous, and is usually a symptom of a more serious health problem, such as obesity, heart attack, stroke and hypertension. It is important to see a doctor or sleep specialist immediately if you think you may have sleep apnea.
Treatment of sleep apnea is relatively simple and depends on a person’s circumstances. Treating a medical condition like obesity (by removing weight, which restricts the airway) can cure the sleep apnea. This is usually done via with exercise and a healthy diet, but might also be treated with surgery if the problem is severe.
For other patients, the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine can cure sleep apnea. The patient breathes through a mask that is slightly pressurized – this keeps the airway open while sleeping.
Another common treatment is the use of a dental headset worn at night which moves the lower jaw down and forward. This helps keep the airway open for ease of breathing.
For other patients, upper airway surgery is recommended. This might involve removing some soft tissue from the airway to create more room in the airway for air to pass through.
If you believe you may have sleep apnea, it’s important to see a doctor or sleep expert as soon as possible.
For more information about insomnia and sleep remedies you can visit the Sleep and Insomnia Guide