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What is Sleep Apnea?
What is Sleep Apnea?If you snore loudly and feel very tired even after a full night's sleep, you may have sleep apnea.Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder. It causes your breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep.There are 3 types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea, Central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apneasyndromeObstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is the most common type. OSA happens when your throat muscles relaxand partially or completely blocks the flow of oxygen into your upper airway.With central sleep apnea, or “CSA”, your airway is not blocked. Instead your brain does not send signals to themuscles that control your breathing.Complex sleep apnea happens when you have both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.The symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap. The most common symptoms include: Loudsnoring. You can also have sleep apnea without snoring at all. Pauses in breathing while asleep. You may notknow you’re doing this until a loved one tells you. Waking up repeatedly in the middle of the night. Waking upfeeling short of breath or like you’re choking. Dry mouth. Morning headache. Insomnia. Daytime sleepiness,which can cause drowsiness at work and while driving. Trouble concentrating and Irritability. It is also linked tomood changes such as depression and anxiety.If you think you have sleep apnea, talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested.Sleep apnea can affect anyone, but you may be at a higher risk if you: Were assigned male at birth; Are obese;Have a family history of sleep apnea; Smoke; Drink alcohol; Take certain medicines like sedatives and opioids;Have chronic nasal or sinus congestion; Have chronic health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, congestiveheart failure, high blood pressure, or asthma.You can’t change all these risk factors. But there are things you can do to manage your sleep apnea.Lifestyle changes can help. These include: Losing weight, if needed; Being physically active; Quitting smoking,if you smoke; Limiting alcohol; Sleeping on your side; And practicing healthy sleep habits, such as waking upat the same time every day.Sleep apnea can increase your risk for serious health problems, such as: Atrial fibrillation; Liver problems;Insulin resistance; Type 2 diabetes; High blood pressure; And complications with anesthesia and surgerybecause of breathing problems.So, getting treatment is very important. Talk with your provider about a treatment plan that works best for you.Living with sleep apnea can be a challenge. But maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following your treatmentplan can help you finally get a good night's sleep.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.© The Wellness Network
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