Everything you need to know about sleep apnea

Do you snore a lot while sleeping on your back?

Do you have difficulty breathing when you are sleeping?

These problems are common in many individuals, from snoring to sleeping with wide open mouths. It mainly happens due to a medical condition termed sleep apnea. In this condition, the nasal passage is blocked and as you inhale, the air cause vibrations, resulting in snoring. When the block is large, you automatically open your mouth to breathe.

This is a severe medical condition, especially if the nasal block doesn’t let you breathe properly. However, most people neglect the associated risks and continue living with this medical condition. Therefore, we have shared the details about this health condition, from explaining the causes and symptoms to the treatment processes and risk factors.

Causes of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea usually occurs when the nasal passage is blocked, and air cannot rush into your lungs properly. Sometimes, it causes vibrations, snoring, or compels you to breathe through your mouth. Apart from this, several other reasons lead to sleep apnea. The below section will list the most common causes of this disease.

1. Obesity is one of the critical indicators of sleep apnea, especially if significant fat is accumulated around the neck region.

2. Excessive smoking can sometimes block the nasal passage, leading to sleep apnea.

3. Respiratory allergy can cause edema, blocking the airway channels and causing vibrations.

4. Acromegaly is also considered a cause of sleep apnea, where the hormonal imbalance doesn't allow the olfactory organ to perform appropriately.

5. Congested upper trachea and bronchitis can also lead to snoring and sleep apnea.

Types of sleep apnea

There are two types of sleep apnea- obstructive and central. Doctors usually identify the type you are suffering from before suggesting the lab screening and examination or administrating the medicines for the same.

1. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles relax or a block in the nasal passage restricts air movement through the upper respiratory tract.

2. Central sleep apnea occurs due to the inactivity of brain signals responsible for controlling the muscles and cartilage involved in breathing.

Symptoms of sleep apnea

To know if you are suffering from sleep apnea, you should learn its symptoms. This way, you won't have to wait for the situation to worsen and visit the doctor. The following are the signs you should look for to determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea or not.

1. Making loud snoring sounds while sleeping in the back

2. Sleeping while a wide open mouth for breathing

3. Dry viscera in the mouth

4. Gasping heavily to inhale maximum air

5. Waking up with a headache in the early morning

6. Cough during sleeping

7. Insomnia or hypersomnia in patients

Impacts of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea can have tons of impacts on your health. Some of the significant consequences of suffering from this medical condition are:

1. Lack of sleep at night

2. Stress and depression due to no sleep

3. Disturbing others who are sleeping with you

4. Dry mouth with the aching nasal passage

5. Shortness of breath during physical activity

The treatment process for sleep apnea

There are several ways of treating sleep apnea based on its type, the extent to which you suffer, and the root cause. Doctors usually prescribe anti-allergic medicines for the respiratory tract that help open the nasal passage.

Conclusion

This blog has discussed almost everything you should be aware of concerning sleep apnea. It will help you understand the seriousness of the disease so that you can get the treatment done at the earliest without wasting any further time.

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