Whether you have been diagnosed with the sleeping disorder of sleep apnea for a while or else you have only recently started experiencing the various symptoms of sleep apnea, then it can sometimes be somewhat confuddling when it comes to ascertaining what best works for you in terms of both limited the quantity and duration of the effects.
With this in mind, continue reading for a comprehensive guide to dealing with sleep apnea.
What Exactly Is Sleep Apnea?
Essentially, sleep apnea is when your breathing stops and then starts again while you are sleeping.
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea, specifically when you are sleeping, include:
- Waking up regularly throughout the night
- Snoring loudly
- Snorting, gasping, or choking yourself awake
- Being consciously aware that your breathing has stopped and then re-started
During the day, signs that you may have sleep apnea include:
- Experiencing mood swings regularly, especially in the middle of the day
- Having a headache which you simply cannot seem to shift in the morning
- Tiredness and lethargy
- Trouble focusing and concentrating
- Trouble with your short-term memory
There are certain triggers that may initiate sleep apnea in people of any age or condition of health, including the fact that sleep apnea is more common in males, stroke, heart disorders, and if a person is using opioid or narcotic pain medications.
Diagnosis Of Sleep Apnea
If you are experiencing several, or more, of the above symptoms, then it is strongly advisable to make an appointment with your medical doctor, who will be able to ascertain whether or not you do indeed have sleep apnea.
To correctly and accurately diagnose sleep apnea, your medical doctor is likely to refer you to a specialist clinic that specializes in sleep apnea and other sleep-related disorders. Renowned and reputable sleep ENT in Texas will work together with yourself and your doctor to assign the correct devices and equipment you will need to wear while you sleep. Usually, the test period in which you are required to wear such pieces of equipment for a period of approximately two weeks, after which it will be clear as to whether you do indeed have sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
The CPAP machine is the most widely used treatment for sleep apnea, both across the length and breadth of the United States and beyond. Essentially, a CPAP machine is a small and portable machine that you wear when you are sleeping, in the form of a mask over your nose or mouth, which pumps air steadily and quietly as you sleep.
The core benefits of using a CPAP machine include, but are certainly not limited to the following:
- A substantial reduction in the risk of various serious problems which are linked to a diagnosis of sleep apnea, for example, significantly high blood pressure
- An impressive improvement in your breathing as you sleep by preventing your body’s airways from becoming too small and narrow
- A strong improvement in both the duration and overall quality of your sleep will directly and quickly improve your feelings of tiredness and lethargy during the day
The sooner you get this diagnosed and treated, the better quality of life you can have.
