Sleep Apnea is one of the most common disorders globally, rampant mostly amongst young adults. Reportedly, 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea and an alarming number of cases are left untreated or sometimes, not diagnosed at all!
Sleep foundation states that ‘sleep apnea is a relatively common disorder in which people experience disrupted breathing while they are sleeping’
Sleep apnea is considered as the gateway and linked to life-threatening diseases including diabetes, hypertension, heart ailments, and even excessive weight gain and obesity. There are three kinds of sleep apnea. As presented by Mayo Clinic, here is a brief overview of all the three kinds of sleep apnea:
- ‘Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax.
- Central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea’
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most commonly occurring type of sleep disorder in young as well as old adults and can often be treated by an early, simple diagnosis and a few visits to regulated sleep clinics.
What are the most likely symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Imagine not breathing for even a second unknowingly. Quite scary isn’t it? But what is even scarier is the way sleep apnea symptoms go unnoticed and eventually undiagnosed. Hereditary, physiological as well as lots of daily lifestyle factors contribute to the cause of sleep apnea.
The Mayo clinic states the following symptoms to be indicative of sleep apnea;
‘The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include:
- Loud snoring
- Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Awakening with a dry mouth
- Morning headache
- Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Difficulty paying attention while awake
- Irritability
In case you are aware of the fact that you do face these symptoms on a daily basis including, excessive weight gain – it is time to consult your primary physician who can then affirm the need for a diagnosis and subsequently the right treatment. Early on diagnosis is the best way to prevent the most harmful physiological effects of sleep apnea.
Is Sleep Apnea Hereditary?
Research shows that 40% of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is attributed to our genetic makeup. When it comes to central sleep apnea, some of the underlying causes like heart trouble are considered to be borne out of hereditary factors.
According to Healthline, ‘health and lifestyle factors have the biggest effect on whether or not you may develop sleep apnea. But there may also be genetic causes for both central and obstructive sleep apnea.It’s important to note that obstructive sleep apnea is much more likely to have underlying genetic causes than central sleep apnea.
The more relatives you have with obstructive sleep apnea, the more likely you are to develop the condition as well’
If you observe sleep apnea symptoms cropping up in your daily lifestyle on a regular basis, despite all the measures taken by you to lead a hale and hearty life, it is time to book a consultation as soon as possible! Based on the severity and recurrence of the symptoms, the healthcare provider shall recommend the course of action to reach an accurate diagnosis. A history of sleep is usually requested and if required, monitored at sleep clinics for further assistance and thorough guidance.
Is it time to seek a consultation for you? Let’s find out if you have sleep apnea, take this quiz!
- Do you snore LOUDLY on a regular basis?
- Yes
- No
- Yes, I have been told.
2. Has anyone noticed you gasping for breath in your sleep at least 2-3 times in a week?
- Yes
- Sometimes
- Just once or twice
3. Do you have an excessively dry mouth as soon as you wake up?
- Yes
- No
- Sometimes
4. Do you have a family history of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
- Yes
- No
- I am not aware
5. Are you being treated for hypertension/ high blood pressure?
- Yes
- No
6. Do you fall asleep during work hours out of fatigue?
- Yes
- No
7. Are you prone to high irritability during waking hours?
- Yes
- Frequently
- Yes, but due to external factors
8. Do you smoke cigarettes?
- 1-3 in a day
- 4-8 in a day
- 10 plus in a day
- Yes, occasionally
9. Have you fallen asleep while driving or any related activity?
- Yes, a couple of times
- Never happened
- I am not aware
10. Are you experiencing and being treated for any heart trouble?
- Yes
- No
If the majority of the answers chosen by you indicate a YES, then it is time to swing into action and consult your primary physician at the earliest in order to start the process of identifying symptoms and avail an early diagnosis.
In case of the answers chosen by you are ‘sometimes, frequently, not aware’ it is time to take a step back, re-evaluate your lifestyle choices and pick a self-care path that not only works but also sustains a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Consult your primary physician if sleep-related problems keep cropping up.
Monitoring sleeping habits/schedules and following regulated sleep hygiene is the key to tackle most of the physical, mental health complications that arise from today’s erratic, unpredictable lifestyles.
