If you have experienced pauses when you breathe or if you have shallow breaths during your sleep, then you might be having sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a very common sleeping disorder which is characterized by pauses in breathing which last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. It can happen frequently in just a matter of an hour, 30 times in an hour in fact, before you can go back to your normal breathing.Sleep apnea can disrupt your sleep and can actually move your sleep from a deep sleep to a light one. When this happens, the quality of your sleep suffers and this makes you feel less energized and a bit tired on the next day. If you notice why some people have the tendency to be excessively sleepy during the daytime, then it might be because of sleep apnea.When you get yourself checked, you cannot be easily diagnosed with sleep apnea because even lab tests will not be able to detect or diagnose this disorder. And for most patients, they are not even aware that they actually have this condition simply because it takes place when they are sleeping.

What are the types of sleep apnea?

• Obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea blocks your airways or collapses them during your sleep. When a person experiences pauses when he breathes or when the breathing is shallow, then it must be because of this type of sleep apnea. Loud snoring is another indication of sleep apnea because the air is trying to get past the blockage. Anybody can experience or suffer from obstructive sleep apnea but this is more common to people who are overweight. If you also have enlarged tonsils, then you are more likely to suffer from this condition.
• Central sleep apnea. This is the type of sleep apnea that occurs when your breathing muscles are not able to receive the signals from the part of your brain that controls the breathing. This explains the short pauses in your breathing. Central sleep apnea is commonly experienced by people with certain health conditions, and also those who are taking some medications, although this is still something that can be experienced by anyone.
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome. This type is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

What are the indications of sleep apnea?

• Loud and frequent snoring, although this is really observed in obstructive sleep apnea
• Shortness of breath but is really a symptom of central sleep apnea
• Headache experienced in the morning
• Short pauses in breathing which is normally noticed by another person
• Hypersomnia or the excessive sleepiness in the daytime
• Dry mouth or sore throat
• Irritability
• Insomnia

Sleep apnea is something that cannot be ignored because it can possibly lead to certain conditions like the increase of your blood pressure, risk of heart attack, diabetes and obesity. It can also increase the risk of irregular heartbeats which is not good for the health of your heart and could also increase your risk of heart failure.

When is a consultation needed for sleep apnea?

You will be able to determine that you need to have yourself checked for sleep apnea when you experience the following:

• You snore loud enough that you disturb the sleep of the person next to you
• You feel so drowsy during the daytime
• Your sleep gets interrupted due to pauses in breathing, or when you gasp for air or you experience shortness of breath

Who can suffer from sleep apnea?

While anyone can possibly suffer from sleep apnea, there are people who actually have higher risks of suffering from this disorder like those who are obese, those with thicker necks or the ones with narrowed throat or narrowed airways; older people; and those with sleep apnea in their family historyIf you do not consider sleep apnea as a serious disorder, then it’s time to change that mindset. If you ignore loud snoring, then you shouldn’t because it is an indication that something’s not right. If you notice some of the symptoms mentioned above, it is important that you consult your doctor before it gets too late.For more information on sleep apnea, call Hoffman Smiles at (847) 250-6979, or visit us at 990 Grand Canyon Parkway Suite 215, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169.