Everything You Need to Know and Wish You Knew about Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders that affect both males and females. It is characterized by snoring and pauses in breathing while sleeping. It is a problem which needs to be taken pretty seriously. When left untreated for a long time, it could be very dangerous, even fatal.

The most common symptom of this problem is frequent pauses in breathing. Each pause – called an apnea – can last for a few seconds or even a few minutes at times. This can also be accompanied by other symptoms like loud snoring and restless sleep. Also, people suffering from sleep apnea tend to feel dull and sleepy during the daytime.

There are three main types of this problem – obstructive, central, and complex. Let us take a look at each of those problems and the treatment options available now.

Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms

This is the most common type of sleep disorder which affects a lot of people these days. As the name suggests, this problem is caused by blocked or obstructed airway. While this problem can affect anyone, it is predominantly seen in people who are obese.

The treatment for this problem mostly involves lifestyle changes. People who suffer from this problem are asked to reduce weight, avoid alcohol, and to sleep in a lateral position. In some cases, people are asked to use oral appliances which keep the airway open and avoid shallow breathing.

Central sleep apnea symptoms

This problem is caused when the brain sends the wrong signals to the breathing muscles. This happens due to imbalance in the respiratory control centers of the brain. This could lead to a drop in blood oxygen level, which could be very serious. It might trigger seizures and could also cause angina or heart attacks in some cases.

To treat this problem, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) devices and taking drugs that can stimulate normal breathing can be used.

Complex sleep apnea symptoms

This is also called mixed apnea which is a combination of both obstructive and central apneas. People who suffer from this problem should be treated for both obstructive and central apneas simultaneously. This kind of apnea is not as common as the other two types mentioned above.

While most people show a lot of improvement in their breathing by using oral appliances and by taking drugs which improve breathing, some people do not respond properly to such non surgical treatment methods. For them, physicians usually suggest corrective surgeries to modify the airway anatomically.

Sleep apnea is usually chronic in nature and could go on for years. However, if left untreated for a long time, it could lead to high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and heart failure. So, if you think you may have this problem, get in touch with a physician immediately and make sure you are okay.

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