Did you know that as many as 18 million Americans experience sleep apnea? That number is no joke — and the effects of sleep apnea are real. Believe it or not, about 4% of Americans don?t even realize they have sleep apnea yet. And this is a serious problem, considering the effects of sleep apnea can be so long reaching!
Do you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea? Here are a few things to keep in mind.
How to Tell if You Have Sleep Apnea
There are several common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. These include constant fatigue, snoring, frequent breathing pauses, depression, and waking up with headaches. In short, you can expect the symptoms of sleep apnea to often mimic the effects of exhaustion, since they are interrelated. Sleep apnea causes the individual to pause in their breathing for 10 to 20 seconds — and this can happen potentially hundreds of times in a single night.
How Can You Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
If you want a quick answer to knowing whether or not you have sleep apnea, you can ask someone to observe you while you sleep — or, set up a way to record yourself sleeping. To make sure this diagnosis is correct, however, you will want to visit a doctor. They may want to observe you overnight in order to gauge just how serious your sleep apnea is.
How Do You Treat Sleep Apnea? Devices Like REMstar Plus
There are a number of treatment options available for this condition. What are they, exactly? CPAP masks remain popular — these devices ensure that positive airway pressure is supplied to the lungs. There are several models available for different sleep styles and preferences; about 50% of users prefer nasal pillows, while 45% prefer nasal masks, and often the only way to discover which one is right for you is to try them out. REMstar Plus is an example of a standard nasal mask device that many users employ.
How to Move Forward
If you end up diagnosed with sleep apnea and need to use a sleeping device, keep in mind that the first month or so can be an uncomfortable experience — but stick with the device! Sleep apnea, when untreated, can result in heart disease and higher mortality rates. This isn’t something you want to ignore.