Causes and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

by Jack K. Digital Marketing

Amongst the multiple forms of ailments and chronic diseases existing in current times, sleep disorders are considered to be very severe, as around twenty-five percent of the population suffers from them all over the world. This is alarmingly high. Any form of hurdle or obstructive barrier, which results in problems falling or staying asleep can be termed as a sleep disorder.

Such disorders include insomnia (sleeplessness), snoring, sleep apnea - to name a few. The given article talks about the details of sleep apnea: what are the causes of it and the type of symptoms that patients display.

But first of all, what is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that is caused by repeated pauses or gaps in a person's breathing patterns while being asleep. In other terms, when a person faces constant stopping and starting his breaths when he is sleeping, that person is said to be suffering from sleep apnea.

What are the causes of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea can be classified into two types. They are:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea

2. Central sleep apnea

In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, the air pipe gets blocked which results in a hurdle for airflow. This blockage can lead to severe problems as the person might become completely unable to breathe while sleeping. The removal of such obstruction is essential in order to ensure that the airways are always open and sufficient airflow is maintained.

On the other hand, central sleep apnea is a condition that arises due to the inefficient functioning of the brain. It is a result of mental illness or disorder and requires special attention from medical professionals, as it can also indicate severe brain damage.

Other than that, the general causes of sleep apnea are as stated below:

Being overweight or suffering from obesity
Having a family history of sleep apnea
Being older than 45-50 years
Excessive alcohol consumption
Intense smoking habits
Having a large tongue or small windpipe
Other respiratory problems like asthma

How can one know if he has sleep apnea?

The general symptoms of sleep apnea can be noticed easily by other people, for example, loved ones or family members of the patient. These include loud and deep snoring. Though, this fact does not necessarily imply that a person who snores heavily is suffering from sleep apnea. But it is amongst the quite prominent symptoms. The other symptoms experienced by the patient himself can be described as follows :

Problems falling asleep
Shortage of breath
Lack of sleep during the night
Excessive drowsiness during daytime
Inefficient memory
Inability to concentrate

When should a person visit the doctor?

It is best to schedule an appointment and visit a doctor when the patient himself notices the symptoms or when a close relative or family member informs him about the visible symptoms. Sleep apnea can seriously affect the quality of not only the person's sleeping cycle but also lead to problems in his physical and mental health.

Home remedies such as losing weight, exercising regularly, giving up bad habits and adopting healthy lifestyle changes can prove to be extremely helpful in treating any form of sleep disorder. But when things seem to get out of hand, it is best to not wait until one notices more severe symptoms or damage and rush to a doctor immediately in case of emergency as well as to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you are facing trouble falling asleep or looking for loud snoring solutions, a sleep apnea dentist can be approached to get oral appliances fit in your mouth. This way, you can deal with the problem without having to go through painful measures.