What Are The Symptoms And Risk Factors Of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common, yet serious sleep disorder that causes interrupted breathing during sleep. In simple words, any person with sleep apnea may experience problems in their breathing patterns, which means it repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This happens when the brain and other body parts fail to get enough oxygen.

Do you know there are quite a number of people who don’t know they are having sleep apnea? For this reason, it has become even more important to learn the common signs and what causes sleep apnea?. From daytime sleepiness to restless sleep and loud snoring are some of the most common signs of sleep apnea. These symptoms not only affect your sleep at night but also leave you feeling tired during the day, which means you’ll be less productive. Among all the symptoms, snoring is the most common one, but everyone who sores not necessarily has sleep apnea.

Here are some of the common signs of sleep apnea.

• Loud and frequent snoring
• Insomnia
• Choking
• Pauses in breathing
• Gasping sounds
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Memory loss
• Morning headaches
• Daytime sleepiness
• Lack of sexual desires
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Nocturia
• Irritability

Snoring overview and facts

When it comes to snoring, it is usually a harsh or loud sound that occurs during sleep. This happens when the flow of inhaled air makes the tissues at the back of your throat vibrate. The sound occurs when you breathe in air that comes through the mouth, nose or both nose and mouth.

Some interesting facts about snoring

• Nearly 50% of people snore at some point in their lives.
• Snoring is common in men, but this doesn’t mean women don’t snore.
• Most people who snore has a family history. This means, snoring runs in the families and become more prominent in the old age.
• Approximately 40% of adult men and 24% of adult women are regular snorers.
• Sleeping on the back promotes snoring.
• Allergies and congestion from a cold are another major causes of snoring.

If you’re light snorer, the overall quality of your sleep may not disrupt. However, heavy and loud snoring may have some connections with obstructive sleep apnea - a serious sleep disorder. This condition has a high risk factor for other health problems, such as stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.

Who are at higher risk of sleep apnea?

Well, sleep apnea can affect anyone, children as well. The following are the people who are at higher risk of sleep apnea.

• Large neck size - If you have a large neck size - in men, 17 inches or more and in women, 16 inches or more, your risk for sleep apnea is higher than others. A large neck means you have more soft tissue, which is likely to block your airway during sleep.
• Being overweight - You may have a higher risk for sleep apnea if you have excess weight with a body mass index of 25 or you’re obese with a body mass index of 30.
• You’re over 40 years - As mentioned already, sleep apnea can occur at any age. However, people in their adult and middle age are more prone to sleep apnea.
• Being male - Sleep apnea affects more men than women. However, the risk of sleep apnea increases in women with menopause.
• You have a family history with sleep apnea
• Having nasal obstruction due to allergies, sinus problems, and deviated septum.

The Bottom Line

Although snoring is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, it is not necessary that everyone who snores has sleep apnea. It is a serious sleep disorder that needs an immediate medical assistant to diagnose and prescribe a proper treatment plan. If you have sleep apnea, don’t worry. This condition is manageable with several approaches like oral appliance therapy, continuous positive airway pressure, and surgery.