Do You Suffer from Sleep Apnea? 5 Warning Signs That You Need Medical Attention
Do you snore loudly? Do you breathe through your mouth during the night? Does your partner tell you that you stop breathing at night? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition that causes breathing difficulties while sleeping. Sleep apnea can lead to numerous health problems including heart disease and diabetes, so it’s important to recognize its warning signs and seek treatment from your doctor immediately. Here are five common symptoms of sleep apnea that warrant medical attention.
1) Your Partner Complains About Your Snoring
The first warning sign that you may have sleep apnea is snoring. If your partner complains about how disruptive your snoring is, and it seems to happen when you are sleeping on your back or side, you may have a breathing problem called sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea interrupts normal breathing while you’re sleeping and can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. It can also cause a lack of quality sleep which in turn leads to daytime drowsiness and decreased work performance.
If you think that this might be the case for you or someone else in your household, talk with a healthcare professional about getting tested for sleep apnea.
2) Unexplained Headaches
If you’re experiencing unexplained headaches throughout your day, it might be time to talk to a doctor. Sleep apnea symptoms can present themselves as headaches because it affects your breathing while you sleep.
When you don’t have enough oxygen, your brain doesn’t get the energy it needs and will send signals for pain relief in the form of a headache.
If you wake up feeling drowsy during the day or if you feel sleepy after eating or drinking anything, these could also be signs that something’s not right with your breathing at night.
3) Difficulties Concentrating
Difficulty concentrating is a major symptom of sleep apnea. The reason for this is pretty straightforward. When you have sleeping disorders, your brain is usually deprived of oxygen during the night, which can lead to a lack of mental clarity and focus during the day. It may also cause headaches, fatigue, and mood swings.
A rested brain is a ready brain, and if you are not sleeping well on a daily basis, your body will reflect that. If you feel like you’re always tired or struggling to concentrate, talk to your doctor about sleep apnea and how to help improve your condition.
4) Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Sleepiness can be one of the most prominent signs of sleep apnea. If you are constantly tired during the day despite getting plenty of sleep, you may want to speak to your doctor about other sleep disorders that could be causing this.
To your relief, the National Sleep Foundation states that there are many devices on the market designed to help people with sleeping disorders, including CPAP machines and dental devices. With these medical devices, people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea can get relief and a better night’s rest.
Pay attention to your body and note anything out of the usual. Asking your doctor for help will be of great service to your and your overall quality of life.
5) Frequent Neck Pain
Many people experience neck pain at some point in their lives. The severity of the pain can range from mild to severe and it usually occurs when sitting or standing for a long period of time, especially if your head is held in an awkward position. But, if you are experiencing neck pain that is accompanied by breathing problems, it’s likely that you’re suffering from sleep apnea and should see a doctor.
As with any other type of chronic pain, neck pain while lying down indicates that your body needs more space to rest. When you lie down at night, the muscles in your neck relax and give the spine room to expand. But if your body is unable to find a soothing breathing pattern, you will be tossing and turning, worsening your pain.
You will also find yourself curling up into uncomfortable sleeping positions, causing your neck to feel sore and tired the next morning. Your doctor can help recommend devices or medication to help ease your sleepless nights, and reduce the overall pain in your neck.
Bottom Line
Not all sleep apnea symptoms are obvious and easy to spot, which may be why this condition continues to go undiagnosed in so many people who actually have it. Sleep apnea can make you feel tired throughout the day and affect the quality of your sleep at night, but these issues are often only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sleep apnea’s effects on your health and well-being.
The most telling sign that you may have sleep apnea is snoring and waking up in the morning with a dry mouth, headache, or sore throat. These are all symptoms that indicate that your airways are being obstructed during your sleep, which does not allow for enough oxygen to enter your body.
If you notice that you’re experiencing any of these five potential signs of sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about getting tested as soon as possible, before your health suffers further.
