Are you suffering from sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition characterised by irregular breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea causes multiple extended pauses in breathing while sleeping. These brief breathing pauses impair sleep quality and reduce the body’s oxygen supply, potentially resulting in serious health consequences.

One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea. It can affect children, adults though men are more likely to be affected.

Symptoms

• Disrupted breathing occurs when a person’s breathing becomes laboured or even stops for up to a minute at a time.
• Excessive sleepiness during the day
• Headaches in the morning
• Irritability
• Attention deficit or difficulty thinking clearly
• Many of these symptoms are caused by a lack of sleep and decreased oxygen levels as a result of interrupted breathing.

What Are the Health Consequences of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can cause sleep deprivation due to frequent nighttime interruptions and shallower overall sleep. Sleep deprivation is associated with far-reaching health consequences that affect a person physically, mentally, and emotionally, so it’s no surprise that sleep apnea has been linked to a variety of health issues.

Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of various types of cardiovascular issues12, including high blood pressure, heart attack, heart disease, and stroke, due to how it affects oxygen balance in the body.

When a person’s airway becomes blocked while sleeping, this is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity is a major cause of OSA and may be an underlying risk factor in up to 60% of cases. Sedative medications and drugs can cause tissue damage in the throat. Heavy smokers were found to have OSA at a higher rate than nonsmokers.