Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that can have significant health consequences. Sleep apnea causes the airway to get blocked repeatedly during sleep, which limits airflow to the lungs, and consequently deprives the brain and body of oxygen.
Sleep apnea often causes you to wake up several times during the night, and you may not even be consciously aware of each time you wake up. As a result of this, the condition causes significant disturbances to sleep, which then can have a profound negative effect on your physical and mental state when you’re awake.
The most reliable indicators that you may be affected by sleep apnea reveal themselves when you’re asleep. These symptoms include:
- Loud and frequent snoring
- Silent pauses in breathing
- Choking or gasping sounds
- Insomnia
As mentioned, however, due to the interruptions that the condition causes to sleeping patterns, you will also experience other symptoms during the day, which are commonly associated with having insufficient or low quality sleep. These symptoms include:
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Decreased sexual desire
- Irritability
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s critical to seek out a professional assessment & diagnosis. Sleep apnea can be managed, primarily with the aid of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, so it’s important to diagnose the condition, and if sleep apnea is diagnose, begin treatment as soon as possible.
