Are you always tired? You might have Sleep Apnea

5 Questions You Should Ask Yourself

Sleep apnea is a condition that can have a major impact on your life, and is a condition which fits under the larger umbrella term of sleep disorders. Sleep apnea involves the interruption of breathing while one is asleep as the sleeper will briefly cease breathing and start breathing again, sometimes many times in a single sleep session. When an individual with sleep apnea has problems breathing this can cause other health issues to develop. How do you know if you are suffering from a condition like sleep apnea? Here are five questions to ask yourself:

1. Do you snore on and off throughout the evening, excessively and even loudly? Snoring is one of the primary signs and indicators of sleep apnea, particularly in cases where the sleeper suffers from obstructive apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when an individual experiences a blockage within his or her airway. When the airway remains partially open the individual will pass air through that partially open section of the airway: this can result in loud and excessive bouts of snoring.

2. Are you often overtired or exhausted during daytime hours even after getting a full evening of sleep? People with sleep apnea are constantly being interrupted during the evening when they sleep. Every time the individual stops breathing and then later gasps for air he or she is aroused slightly: this pattern of broken sleep causes the sufferer to be tired throughout the day.

3. Do you find that you have issues going to sleep in the evening? When an individual has sleep apnea his or her sleep pattern is disrupted. A disrupted sleep pattern can lead to issues such as insomnia.

4. Do you sometimes find that you wake up with unexplained headaches? Since the sleeper suffering from sleep apnea is repeatedly experiencing interruptions in his or her breathing cycle, carbon dioxide is building up in the system over time. The accumulation of C02 in small levels can create an issue with headaches.

5. Is your throat often scratchy and sore when you first awaken? Since the individual with sleep apnea is constantly snoring and trying to catch one’s breath, the throat can become dry, sore, and irritated on a regular basis.

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition which must be properly addressed. There are a number of treatments for sleep apnea which can be discussed with your dentist or doctor. Some treatments can involve surgery, but often a simple Snore appliance can resolve many issues and give you a good night's sleep.