Have you been experiencing breathing difficulties lately during sleep?

Are you wondering what the symptoms are related to? There is a possibility that you may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, commonly referred to as sleep apnea. Don’t be alarmed just yet. Wait to get yourself diagnosed by a good sleep specialist. There are also popular sleep apps available for android and iOS to see if you have some of the symptoms mentioned below.

Following are some alarm bells to look out for, if you think you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

Loud snoring

Is your better half or dear ones complaining that your snoring has become very loud? Is your sleep being disrupted by your own loud snores? Are you often researching quick cures or remedies for snoring? Snoring is a common issue. However,while loud snoring is not the only symptom of Sleep Apnea, it is one of the symptoms. If your snoring is causing problems for yourself or your loved ones, it may be time to get it checked out.

Choking or gasping during sleep

Have you been waking up with sudden choking or gasps to catch your breath? Has this happened multiple times? If so, how frequently does this occur? Choking and gasping for breath is one of the telling signs that you maybe suffering from sleep apnea. It is also very risky to stop breathing for a long time during sleep. If this has been happening multiple times, then it is definitely time to visit the sleep specialist.

Excessive daytime sleepiness

Do you feel extremely sleepy in the mornings? Do you frequently feel unrested at work? Feeling sleepy during the day once in awhile is not something to worry about. But if you constantly feel sleep deprived during the day, then it is time to monitor your sleep and observe what’s going on. Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Excessive sleepiness can also affect your performance at work, your driving and many daily activities. If this happens often, then it’s best to see the doctor.

Morning headaches

If you experience headaches in the mornings regularly, it could indicate the lack of quality sleep due to obstructed airways. When airways are obstructed, your system doesn’t receive adequate amounts of oxygen, which in turn leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood stream. Morning headaches indicate that the sleep apnea condition is at a moderate stage, if not a later state. If you experience this regularly, visit your sleep specialist soon.

Feeling tired even after sleep

Do you feel extremely fatigued even after a good night’s rest? Is the overwhelming amount of tiredness affecting your performance at work? Are you experiencing really low energy to perform daily activities like driving? If your answer is yes to all these questions, this could imply that you may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Regular occurance of this symptom is one to watch out for this condition.

Dry mouth after sleep

If you are experiencing dry mouth and sore throat after sleep, it could mean that you were having difficulty breathing in the night. To alleviate breathing trouble during nights, it is common for people with breathing and sleep disorders to open their mouths to sleep. However, this leads to dry mouth and sore throat. Constantly waking up with dry mouth and sore throat could be an indication of a more serious problem. One of which maybe sleep apnea.

Obesity

Obesity is more a cause of Obstructive Sleep Apnea rather than a symptom. An overall congestion in the airways maybe due to excessive weight and pressure on the respiratory system leading to sleep apnea. Research has shown that weight loss can ease the obstruction in the airways, aiding flow of air through the respiratory system. If you are on the obese side and are experiencing difficulty breathing, the best thing will be to consult your nutritionist and sleep specialist to lose weight in a healthy and safe way. Weight loss is one of the best remedies for OSA and will definitely help sufferers of Sleep Apnea in the long term.

Depression & Being Easily Irritable

Depression and being easily irritable are not the direct and telling signs of sleep apnea. It is a secondary symptom of OSA. The lack of oxygen flow to the blood and lack of sleep can result in hormonal imbalances which could lead to change in moods and depression. If you are constantly experiencing any of the above symptoms along with depression, then it is best to see a sleep specialist and a psychologist to correct these conditions in a systematic way.

Are any of the above symptoms bothering you regularly? As mentioned earlier, experiencing any of the above symptoms regularly doesn’t necessarily mean that you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. They are just alarm bells to look out for, to tell you that it may be time to visit your doctor and a sleep specialist.
If you require a sleep study, MRIPL can conduct one for you to observe your sleep. You can request a sleep study on the sleep study page. Fill the form on the page and we will give you a call to schedule a sleep study for you. Also, once the sleep specialist determines the existence of Sleep Apnea, MRIPL can help you with with finding the right Sleep Apnea machine for your problem. You can also buy or rent sleep apnea machines like CPAP and BiPAP machines on our website. Do you require only CPAP masks and accessories? Then find them here https://www.mripl.com/shop/cpap-masks-accessories/ .