Due to the prevalence of sleep apnea, you may want to educate yourself about this particular condition. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to protect yourself against it. Considering that you will be asleep, it can be difficult to appreciate the dangers or notice this condition.
Are Some Individuals More Prone To Developing Sleep Apnea?
While there are a great number of different factors that could make you more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, there are some that may be more common. Individuals that are overweight will often develop this condition as a result of pressure on their airway. Also, those that suffer from respiratory conditions will be prone to developing this condition as inflammation can be a side effect of many respiratory conditions. Elderly individuals may also find that they can be at a much greater risk of developing sleep apnea as a result of the aging process.
How Serious Of A Problem Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that can be a nuisance while also posing potentially serious medical problems. Individuals that suffer from severe sleep apnea will wake up periodically throughout the night, which can be extremely disruptive to the sleep cycle. Furthermore, the interruptions to your breathing can put tremendous stress on your heart. These potential risks make it important to seek treatment if you have reason to believe that you may have this condition.
How Can You Know Whether You Suffer From Sleep Apnea?
Waking up being short of breath is one of the most noticeable signs of experiencing this condition. However, individuals with mild sleep apnea may only experience a sense of fatigue after sleeping. If you are concerned about the risk of having this condition, you can be evaluated to confirm whether or not you experience sleep apnea. This is done by monitoring your breathing patterns while you are sleeping. For the most accurate results, it may be necessary for your sleep to be monitored over several nights.
How Is Sleep Apnea Corrected?
Patients may assume that a surgical procedure is the most likely option to correct their condition. And while sleep apnea surgery may be necessary in some cases, there are less invasive options that can be tried first, especially in less severe cases. In particular, those with mild sleep apnea may be able to reduce their condition through lifestyle changes, which may include losing weight and starting an exercise routine. There are also mouthguards that can be worn, and these will help to keep the airway open while you sleep so that you will be able to breathe freely.