What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder. It causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep.
There are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea.
A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring.
One treatment involves using a device that uses positive pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep. In some cases, surgery may be an option too.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Loud snoring
- Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
- Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking
- Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headache
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Depression or irritability
- High blood pressure
- Nighttime sweating
Risk factors
Anyone can develop obstructive sleep apnea. However, certain factors put you at increased risk, including:
- Excess weight.
- Narrowed airway.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- Chronic nasal congestion.
- Smoking.
- Diabetes.
- A family history of sleep apnea.
- Asthma.
Complications
Obstructive sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition.
Due to sleep pathology, a person may complain of memory problems, suffer from headaches in the morning, notice changes in character, mood. There is also a risk of depression.
The repeated awakenings associated with obstructive sleep apnea make normal, restorative sleep impossible.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious test for your partner as well, because loud snoring does not put the other person to sleep. Patients admit that some partners prefer to sleep in another room because of snoring.
Sleep apnea does not only mean the discomfort caused by snoring, but if left untreated, cardiovascular problems can also develop.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352090
