Sleep Apnea Is A Serious Issue, Know About It In Detail
Tags: sleep, apnea
Published: 2023-03-06 06:51:51

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“**When someone has sleep apnea, their breathing repeatedly pauses and resumes while they are asleep. Daytime sleepiness, audible snoring, and trouble sleeping are symptoms**.”

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. When the upper airway is physically blocked, this occurs. Another type, central sleep apnea (CSA), is brought on by a neurological signaling issue.

The person will become unconscious if the airway closes or if the signal is delayed. During sleep, this will repeatedly occur for brief periods of time. They may snort, take a deep breath, or fully awaken with a feeling of gasping, suffocating, or choking when they start breathing again.

Sleep apnea complications like heart disease and depression could result from untreated sleep apnea. Additionally, it can make a person feel sleepy, which raises the danger of accidents while operating machinery or driving.

Here, learn more about the symptoms, causes, when to see a doctor and treatment options.

**SYMPTOMS** 

Even though a person with sleep apnea may not be aware of their symptoms, another person may observe that the person:

- stops breathing for a moment then takes a loud breath.

- breathes heavily

- snores a lot

The person may become aware of having:

- fatigue

- restless sleep or insomnia

- difficulty concentrating

- waking up several times a night to urinate

- awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat

- headaches

- irritability

- heartburn

- decreased libido and erectile dysfunction

**Causes**

The obstruction or collapse of the airway can be caused by numerous factors. They include the following:

- throat and mouth tissues, including the muscles, are lax.

- nasal obstruction

- increased fat stores and thickened tissues surrounding the airway

- a fundamental neurological issue

These can result from:

- genetic factors

- colds and allergies

- obesity

- thyroid problems

- heart or kidney failure

- large or swollen tonsils

Infants born preterm may have sleep apnea, but this usually resolves with age.

**Complications**

Sleep apnea may increase the risk of the following:

- asthma symptoms

- atrial fibrillation

- cancer

- long-term kidney disease

- ability to focus, memory problems, and other cognitive functions
dementia

- cardiovascular problems due to a reduced oxygen supply
pregnancy complications

- eye conditions like glaucoma

- metabolic syndrome, which includes hypertension and type 2 diabetes

- stroke

**When to see a doctor**

There are associations between sleep apnea and a number of health problems, including memory loss, depression, heart attacks, and stroke. It may also increase the risk of high blood pressure.

Although there isn’t always a clear connection between the conditions, anyone who has sleep apnea should consult a doctor because it could be a sign of something more serious.

A sleeping partner or other household members may notice the person’s sleep apnea and inform them of it even though they may not be aware of it themselves.

**Takeaway**

People frequently experience sleep apnea, which causes their breathing to pause while they are asleep. It may be a symptom of an underlying condition and cause fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

Often, a person with sleep apnea is unaware of it; however, a household member will be aware of it. Anyone who feels sleepy during the day should consult a doctor, who can help them determine the cause and the best course of action to take to address it.