Think snoring is normal? Wait till you read this blog about sleep apnea

Does your partner often complain about your snoring? Is the problem becoming too embarrassing for you lately? If the answer to any one or both of these is Yes, you need to see a doctor and get yourself evaluated. As per the best pulmonologist in Jayanagar, heavy snoring is the sign of a potentially serious condition known as sleep apnea, which can be triggered by multiple risk factors like obesity, unmanaged comorbidities, smoking, and heavy drinking.
 

Sleep Apnea at a glance
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder marked by repetitive pauses in breathing while you are sleeping. A person suffering from the condition is likely to present with heavy snoring and often wakes up in the middle of the night, gasping for air. Another common sign of sleep apnea is feeling tired even after a long night's sleep. You are going to bed early to get a good 7 to 8 hours of sleep, but still, you feel tired at work. If you can relate to the situation, there is a possibility of you having sleep apnea.
 

Getting familiar with two types of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is broadly classified into different types - Obstructive sleep apnea and Central sleep apnea
-Obstructive sleep apnea is more common as compared to central sleep apnea. The condition is marked by a repetitive blockage in the upper airway, which may be partial or complete. As this happens, the muscles in the chest and diaphragm are overloaded as they have to exert extra force to open the blocked airway. When you resume breathing after an OSA episode, you are likely to gasp for air, just like a patient does when provided with an oxygen mask. This happens because the oxygen supply was temporarily cut off.
-Central sleep apnea is not very common and unlike obstructive sleep apnea in which the airway is blocked, this has more to do with the brain and how it sends signals to the muscles. The problem is linked to the central nervous system.
 

Who is more likely to get sleep apnea?
The best pulmonologists in Jayanagar Bangalore suggest that sleep apnea is more common in men as compared to women. If we speak in terms of number, sleep apnea has been found to affect 25 percent of the male population and only 10 percent of the female population. As far as age is concerned, there is no barrier, as the problem can affect anyone ranging from small babies to older people above 50 years of age. However, the latter are at a significantly higher risk.
Also, if you are looking for a particular trait, there are a few that are very common in people with sleep apnea. These include excessive body weight, the greater circumference of the neck, and structural problems like enlarged tonsils and nasal obstruction.
 

When should you go and see a doctor?
You should immediately see a doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with the condition. A person suffering from sleep apnea may exhibit a variety of symptoms which include:
●    Heavy snoring
●    Daytime fatigue
●    Waking up from sleep with a feeling of being choked
●    Restlessness during sleep
●    Waking up with a dry mouth
●    Night sweating
●    Frequent headaches
●    Sexual dysfunction
Some people suffering from the condition also complain of apnea. Also, symptoms exhibited by children suffering from the condition might be a bit different. It can affect their performance at school and they might always feel sleepy and sluggish. Experience in the symptoms does not mean that you or your child necessarily has sleep apnea, however, there is no harm in getting yourself evaluated.
 

Why should you go for a proper medical assessment?
People with sleep apnea require immediate medical attention. We know that the condition is marked by a blockage in the airways, which can stop you from breathing properly. This leads to oxygen deprivation which causes your heart rate to accelerate and your blood pressure to rise. These are acute changes that are experienced during an episode of sleep apnea. When this happens on a regular basis for a long period of time, it can put an additional strain on the heart muscles causing them to become thick. This also promotes the growth of fibrous cells between the stiff muscle cells leading to atrial or ventricular arrhythmias. Hence it is important to get yourself evaluated at the earliest.
 

To know more about sleep apnea you can consult the top pulmonologist in Bangalore today.

Posted on : 02/08/2022      Views : 917

Think snoring is normal? Wait till you read this blog about sleep apnea

Does your partner often complain about your snoring? Is the problem becoming too embarrassing for you lately? If the answer to any one or both of these is Yes, you need to see a doctor and get yourself evaluated. As per the best pulmonologist in Jayanagar, heavy snoring is the sign of a potentially serious condition known as sleep apnea, which can be triggered by multiple risk factors like obesity, unmanaged comorbidities, smoking, and heavy drinking.
 

Sleep Apnea at a glance
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder marked by repetitive pauses in breathing while you are sleeping. A person suffering from the condition is likely to present with heavy snoring and often wakes up in the middle of the night, gasping for air. Another common sign of sleep apnea is feeling tired even after a long night's sleep. You are going to bed early to get a good 7 to 8 hours of sleep, but still, you feel tired at work. If you can relate to the situation, there is a possibility of you having sleep apnea.
 

Getting familiar with two types of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is broadly classified into different types - Obstructive sleep apnea and Central sleep apnea
-Obstructive sleep apnea is more common as compared to central sleep apnea. The condition is marked by a repetitive blockage in the upper airway, which may be partial or complete. As this happens, the muscles in the chest and diaphragm are overloaded as they have to exert extra force to open the blocked airway. When you resume breathing after an OSA episode, you are likely to gasp for air, just like a patient does when provided with an oxygen mask. This happens because the oxygen supply was temporarily cut off.
-Central sleep apnea is not very common and unlike obstructive sleep apnea in which the airway is blocked, this has more to do with the brain and how it sends signals to the muscles. The problem is linked to the central nervous system.
 

Who is more likely to get sleep apnea?
The best pulmonologists in Jayanagar Bangalore suggest that sleep apnea is more common in men as compared to women. If we speak in terms of number, sleep apnea has been found to affect 25 percent of the male population and only 10 percent of the female population. As far as age is concerned, there is no barrier, as the problem can affect anyone ranging from small babies to older people above 50 years of age. However, the latter are at a significantly higher risk.
Also, if you are looking for a particular trait, there are a few that are very common in people with sleep apnea. These include excessive body weight, the greater circumference of the neck, and structural problems like enlarged tonsils and nasal obstruction.
 

When should you go and see a doctor?
You should immediately see a doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with the condition. A person suffering from sleep apnea may exhibit a variety of symptoms which include:
●    Heavy snoring
●    Daytime fatigue
●    Waking up from sleep with a feeling of being choked
●    Restlessness during sleep
●    Waking up with a dry mouth
●    Night sweating
●    Frequent headaches
●    Sexual dysfunction
Some people suffering from the condition also complain of apnea. Also, symptoms exhibited by children suffering from the condition might be a bit different. It can affect their performance at school and they might always feel sleepy and sluggish. Experience in the symptoms does not mean that you or your child necessarily has sleep apnea, however, there is no harm in getting yourself evaluated.
 

Why should you go for a proper medical assessment?
People with sleep apnea require immediate medical attention. We know that the condition is marked by a blockage in the airways, which can stop you from breathing properly. This leads to oxygen deprivation which causes your heart rate to accelerate and your blood pressure to rise. These are acute changes that are experienced during an episode of sleep apnea. When this happens on a regular basis for a long period of time, it can put an additional strain on the heart muscles causing them to become thick. This also promotes the growth of fibrous cells between the stiff muscle cells leading to atrial or ventricular arrhythmias. Hence it is important to get yourself evaluated at the earliest.
 

To know more about sleep apnea you can consult the top pulmonologist in Bangalore today.



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