Sleep Apnea Symptoms to Watch For
Extremely loud snoring may be a symptom of a much more serious condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be life threatening of left untreated so it is important that you become familiar with the signs if you think you may be afflicted. Snoring is one of the indicators, but there are others you can watch for too.
There is more than one type of sleep disorder a person may have, each caused by something different. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by blocking the airway somehow when you are sleeping. Central sleep apnea is characterized by the part of the brain that controls your breathing not working the way it should. Both can be treated by a doctor or specialist.
Sleep apnea symptoms can appear at any time. While they are most frequently observed in overweight men over forty years, they can be found in men and women of all ages and are increasingly seen today in children.
Those who have sleep apnea may exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:
1. Loud snoring that disrupts the sleep of you or your partner.
2. Headaches which usually occur during the morning.
4. Daytime sleepiness felt regularly; also known as hypersomnia.
4. Unable to sleep through the night.
5. Brief periods of stopping breathing while sleeping.
6. Sore throat or dry mouth on waking.
7. Irritability.
8. Difficulties with concentration, learning or behavior.
9. Hypertension.
10. Hyperactivity in children (ADHD).
The patient is very often completely unaware that they are experiencing this problem and have to be advised by their partner. They however are acutely aware that they are extremely tired all the time.
Even though it can turn deadly, there are many other serious problems that must be addressed to stop the negative effects on health. The depletion of oxygen in the brain is a problem and leads to poor concentration, drowsiness and lack of alertness. An overall decrease in the oxygen supply to the brain increases the levels of carbon dioxide leading to intense toxicity building which is another cause of heart attacks and strokes.
