Warning Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea — Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, that causes you to repeatedly stop and start breathing while you sleep. This type of sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep.
Sleep apnea is characterized by specific symptoms, which can be warning signs of this condition. However, many people do not aware if they are suffering this obstructive sleep apnea, until doctor diagnose it. Identifying the warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea can help patients to seek timely proper treatment before it causes more serious health conditions.
Some of the most common warning signs are:
1. Unusually loud snoring
A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Snoring doesn’t necessarily indicate something potentially serious, and not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea. However, Sleep-apnea-related snoring tends to be loud and may sound as if the person is choking, snorting, or gasping
2. Shortness of breath at night
Sometimes people with obstructive sleep apnea may experience waking up in the middle of the night, and realizing that you were gasping for air or feeling short of breath.
3. Excessive exhaustion at daytime
Plenty of people struggling to stay awake during the day or so tired that they cannot do activity properly. Excessive daytime sleepiness, feeling constantly exhausted and sluggish during the day may be indication of suffering sleep apnea.
3. Morning headaches
Someone who suffered with sleep apnea often feel morning headache after waking up, where it involves pressing pain on both sides of the head. They can feel like pressing on the head, but without pulsating pain.
5. Dry mouth in the morning
People who are struggling to breathe at night will naturally become mouth breathers. The greater the obstructions, the more your mouth will open to try to get more air in. This decreases the moisture and salivary flow, resulting morning dry mouth.
Obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed after your doctor review your personal and your family medical history as well as conducting a physical examination. Doctor will also ask questions about your current symptoms to see if you meet the criteria for suffering sleep apnea, and determine the right treatment. At times, more than one treatment option may be appropriate.
Obstructive sleep apnea is treatable, and its treatment is available at BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua, we cover how sleep apnea is usually diagnosed and the variety of treatment options given. For further information on obstructive sleep apnea, please contact our operational team at BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua via email: admin.nd@bimcbali.com
