Are you struggling with loud snoring and breathing issues at night? The sleep issues could occur due to sleep apnea; sleep apnea is a condition that interrupts your breathing when you are sleeping. If you don't get treatment, it can lead to heart problems and high blood pressure. Bristow Sleep Apnea has specialists who use modern technology to ensure that you go back to your everyday life. Your doctor will educate you about these sleep apnea causes, symptoms, and treatments to help you cope with the condition.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea results from the airway being partially covered, causing vibration of the tissue resulting in snoring. Air blockage can be caused by nasal congestion resulting from allergies or an underlying condition. Other risk factors include gender, as men are likely to be affected by sleep apnea, although women's frequency increases after menopause. When you are overweight and obese, you risk sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
The main symptoms are frequent and loud snoring, gasping, choking, and snoring during sleep. You can also experience morning headaches, memory loss, fatigue during the day, and frequent urination during the night. Although it can be difficult to identify sleep apnea, you can ask your partner to observe your sleep habits or record yourself during sleep.
Diagnosis
The symptom associated with sleep apnea sometimes does not mean that you have the condition. It would help if you visited a doctor to discuss the symptoms related to sleep apnea. If you have five breathing episodes per hour, the disease is mild, while intense has more than thirty breathing episodes per hour. Your doctor will use your diagnosis to suggest a treatment plan for you.
Treatment
If you are experiencing mild sleep apnea, lifestyle treatment can be enough to get rid of the condition. The therapy will normalize your breathing, and you need to manage your weight, eat a healthy diet. If the symptoms persist, you will discuss them with your doctor to recommend the best medication.
If the lifestyle change doesn't work, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is another option. You are given a mask that will be pumped continually with oxygen to help your airways stay open. The covers range in size and can accommodate all types of face shapes. Ensure that you choose a fitting mask so that you don't struggle during your treatment. Nasal symptoms are relieved when you add moisture to the air as it flows through the cover.
Surgery is not a standard treatment option, but a surgeon can increase the size of the airway by removing tonsils and excess tissues on the inside of the nose and implanting plastic rods at the back of your tongue. However, this can cause a risk to your life, and symptoms can become worse in rare cases.
Oral appliance therapy is when your dentist specializing in sleep apnea helps you fit acrylic devices that fit your mouth that will help adjust the position of your lower jaw. The devices work well if suited well and cause severe complications like a change in jaw position if now well done.
Conclusion
You need to know the differences between regular snoring and sleep apnea. Visiting a doctor who will diagnose you before treatment is essential. Talk with your doctor if the sleep apnea-related symptoms persist.
Parker shown is full time guest blogger and publisher