Sleep Apnea is an interruption to your breathing repeatedly while asleep. I emphasized repeatedly, because it is considered normal to have a few interruptions in your breathing at night.
People often ask, can I get sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea does not have a preference of sex, age, or color. Sleep Apnea is a serious health issue that is often overlooked and/or underdiagnosed.
Symptoms of sleep apnea may include loud disruptive snoring, choking or gasping for air, morning headaches, pause in breathing, difficulty staying asleep, nocturia, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
A few reasons to get tested for sleep apnea include obesity, smokers, family history, nasal congestion, dry mouth, high blood pressure, heart diseases, erectile dysfunction, and Type 2 diabetes to name a few.
According to medpagetoday.com, “65% of men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction also have sleep apnea.” One out of four men ages 35-45 also has sleep apnea.
The types of apnea range from obstructive to mixed.
01
Obstructive Apnea
Obstructive apnea is most common. This occurs when your breathing decreases at least 90% from your normal breath in which your throat muscles relax but you are attempting to breathe.
02
Central Apnea
Central apnea is defined as when there is an attempt to breathe; however, the brain did not send the signals to your muscles to cause a breath. As a result, breathing is interrupted which causes no motion of a breath.
03
Mixed Apnea
Mixed apnea is a combination of obstructive and central apneas. With mixed apnea, you begin with a central event but then your brain fires up, sending a signal to your muscle (making an effort) to breathe causing an obstructive event at the end.
SLEEP APNEA IS A SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITION.
Without a doubt, sleep apnea is a serious health condition, and the faster the treatment the better the chance to live a healthier lifestyle.
Check your chances of having sleep apnea.
Take our Stop Bang or Epworth Sleepiness Scale surveys to check your chances of having sleep apnea.
However, if you or your partner are experiencing any of these symptoms or have more questions, please see your primary care physician and/or check with your insurance company for an in-network sleep provider.
**If you or your partner are experiencing any of these symptoms, please see your primary care physician and/or check with your insurance company for an in-network sleep provider. If you are unsure if you should see a provider, or if seeing a provider is not on your radar at this time, schedule a 30-min consultation for more information.