5 Signs You May Be Suffering From Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is not always fatal, but it is one of the scariest sleeping abnormalities to have just because you'd feel quite helpless. When you're asleep, you have no control over your body and you'll just have to trust your autonomic functions to regulate your breathing. But what if something went wrong and you suddenly stopped breathing? According to studies, ninety percent of those who suffer from sleep apnea are not even aware that they have the condition. Nevertheless, they could feel the effects of this affliction in the mornings. To combat sleep apnea, it pays to be aware of the symptoms that come with it. Here are 5 signs you may be suffering from sleep apnea.
Do you suddenly awaken at night to start breathing?
Of the 5 signs you may be suffering from sleep apnea, this may be the one that people fail to notice the most. Remember how you might suddenly wake up and find that your lungs are empty, something tells you to breathe in and you do so, feeling the life-giving air filling your lungs. You have the feeling that perhaps you hadn't been breathing but you're not always sure. Did you just dream it or imagine it? Well, if this situation happens to you quite often, it would be in your best interest to go to a specialist right away. When dealing with probable cases of sleep apnea, it really pays to be safe.
Do you feel tired and not at all refreshed after waking up in the mornings?
If you can't feel refreshed even after a long bout of sleep, then something must be wrong. That means that your air circulation might not be at the optimum levels. Your brain wouldn't have the oxygen it needs and your body's cells would not be able to fully excrete their waste carbon dioxide. Whether it's sleep apnea or something else, why not just pay a visit to the doctor?
Even loud snoring can be a symptom of apnea
If your partner frequently complains about how loudly you snore, then you just might have apnea. The snoring is caused by some unwelcome blockage of the air path. This same blockage might be something that would cause apnea or something that is merely a symptom. However, you should know that snoring could be the symptom for a variety of other very serious sicknesses, one of which is heart disease.
Being sleepy the whole day might be due to apnea
Because apnea causes limitations in how well your body takes in oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide, your brain might be suffering from some level of cell decay because of it. This would cause a lack of concentration and focus all throughout the day and sometimes you might unexpectedly fall asleep even at work. This could be very dangerous; you don't want to get into an accident when you're driving, right?
Do you wake up all sweaty at night?
Because of the imbalance in oxygen and carbon dioxide that sleep apnea causes, your body is forced to exert effort to find ways to regain that balance. Excessive sweating can be a sign of this effort and you shouldn't disregard this very important sign.
There are more symptoms aside from these 5 signs you may be suffering from sleep apnea and it's up to you to recognize them and get yourself to a physician as soon as possible. By curing yourself of apnea, that gives you one less thing to worry about, and that's a very important thing.
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