We all need sleep to function. Not only does a bad night’s sleep lead to crankiness, exhaustion, and many cups of coffee, consistently tossing and turning each night can lead to many health conditions. But what happens if you try time and time again to get a restful night’s sleep, and only wake up feeling confused and sleepy? You may have sleep apnea.
About 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, and while this ailment is typically classified by heavy breathing and snoring, there are actually many different serious health issues that can arise besides just snoring. Considering the fact that two to four percent of Americans have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea, leading to up to 38,000 deaths per year, it is incredibly important to be vigilant in noticing what is going on within your body. Here are some common sleep apnea warning signs to keep an eye out for.
High blood pressure:This is especially common with those who have obstructive sleep apnea. One of the best treatment options is oral appliance therapy, where the patient sleeps with a custom-fitted mouth guard that slowly moves the jaw forward and keeps the airway open during sleep.
Heart disease: Unfortunately, untreated sleep apnea sufferers are three times as likely to have heart disease. Additionally, the risk of death if left untreated is five times higher amongst sleep apnea suffers.
Diabetes: Sleep apnea is generally seen in patients who are overweight, and recent research has shown thatShockingly, up to 83% of those with Type 2 Diabetes have sleep apnea and are unaware of it.
Stroke:The risk for stroke increases with the severity of your sleep apnea as your brain is being deprived of oxygen. In fact, the risk of stroke is four times greater in untreated cases.
As always, these symptoms may differ from person to person. If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, ask your doctor for a sleep test to determine if you really do have sleep apnea.
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is to use a CPAP machine. These sleep apnea machines are about the size of a tissue box, and use tubes outfitted with nasal pillow masks to blow constant air pressure up your nose to keep your airways open during sleep. CPAP machines are typically covered under insurance and can be prescribed to you by your doctor.
Looking for a quality CPAP machine and all the accessories to go with it? The experts here at 1800CPAP are here to help!