Understanding Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, from the Greek meaning “without breath,” is a condition where breathing pauses for at least 10 seconds during sleep.
Recognizing Sleep Apnea:
- Loud snoring that might disturb others’ sleep
- Suddenly waking up gasping, coughing, or choking
- Increased heartbeat upon waking
- Morning headaches
- Feeling exhausted despite a full night’s rest
- Daytime drowsiness or unintended naps
- Trouble with memory or focus
- Unusual irritability or mood swings
- Unexpected weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Experiencing acid reflux (in adults) or showing signs of AD/HD (in children)
- Nighttime bed-wetting in kids
Why Worry About Sleep Apnea?
It’s not just about loud snoring. Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age and, without treatment, can lead to more serious health issues. It’s associated with obesity, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, and even an increased risk of accidents.
What Happens When Breathing Pauses?
The tongue and throat muscles relax too much during sleep, which can cause the jaw to fall back and block the airway. This blockage can lead to apneas (complete pauses in breathing) and hypopneas (shallow breathing).
- Each apnea can last from 10 seconds to over a minute and might happen many times each night.
- Oxygen levels drop, and blood pressure rises during these pauses, putting extra strain on the heart.
- The body might jerk, or the person might snort or gasp after an apnea as the brain tries to resume normal breathing.
Waking up from these events can prevent deep, restful sleep, causing daytime tiredness and other problems. The cycle of relaxing muscles blocked airways, and waking up can repeat many times throughout the night, impacting overall health and well-being.
If you or someone you know shows signs of sleep apnea, it’s important to seek medical advice to explore treatment options and improve sleep quality.
