Are you experiencing a sleep disorder? Those sleepless nights when you keep tossing either side of the bed, expecting to fall asleep. You maybe suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is not something that you should deny or hide from others. It is always better to get treatment to change your life.
Sleep apnea, a serious disease or disorder, occurs when the person is experiencing problems in breathing and due to which sleep can be interrupted. Well, the problems of sleep apnea should be taken seriously because it is growing like an epidemic. According to a survey, it was revealed that almost 18 to 19 million people are suffering from it. And out of these, almost 80% of the people are not aware that they are suffering from sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be the reason behind various other health issues such as diabetes, blood pressure issues, memory issues, heart attack, weight gain, and various other breathing issues.
Do You Know About The Common Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea?
According to the healthcare professional, some of the most common sleep apnea symptoms include:
- You might suffer from loud snoring in your sleep.
- You might feel exhausted and daytime tiredness
- You would feel frequent napping
- Along with frequent napping, you might feel frequent awakenings
- Morning headaches
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Restless sleeping
What Are The Different Types Of Sleep Apnea?
Well, there are two major types of sleep apnea - Central Sleep Apnea & Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
So let’s understand both the types one by one.
What Do You Mean By Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea: Well, this is considered the most common of the two. If an individual is suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, then they might feel repetitive episodes of complete or partial upper airway blockage during sleep. In such a situation, the diaphragm and chest muscles of the body tend to work hard as the pressure increases to open the airway. Moreover, the breathing would be resumed only with a loud gasp or body jerk. Obstructive sleep apnea is also a serious condition because it interferes with sound sleep, reduces the flow of oxygen to vital organs, and causes heart rhythm irregularities.
Central Sleep Apnea: It is another kind of sleep apnea in which the airways of the body do not face any blockage. But actually, the brain fails miserably to provide signals to the muscles to breathe. It happens due to irregularities in the respiratory control center. Central apnea is a condition that is directly related to the function of the central nervous system.
Who Is Likely To Suffer From Sleep Apnea?
Well, according to the report provided by healthcare professionals, sleep apnea is found in 25% of the male and approximately 10% of females. Sleep apnea can also have an impact on people belonging to different age groups, including babies. It mostly affects people who are overweight.
Some of the common features of the people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea are
1. Excessive weight
2. Large neck
3. Structural abnormalities
All these clinical conditions reduce the diameter of the upper airway, such as nasal obstruction. It is a low-hanging soft palate, with enlarged tonsils or a small jaw with an overbite.
What Should You Do If You Want To Avoid Sleep Apnea?
If you want to avoid the problems of sleep apnea, you should follow these things:
You Must Focus On Maintaining A Healthy Weight:
You might have come across various healthcare professionals who would always recommend sleep apnea patients to reduce the weight. Excessive body weight can have a direct impact on the respiratory system and it increases the risk of nasal obstruction.
Learn To Keep Your Body Fit By Regular Exercise And Yoga:
With regular exercises and yoga, you can increase the level of your energy, strengthen your heart, and improve sleep apnea. Moreover, yoga can specifically improve your respiratory strength and make it easier for oxygen to flow.
Focus On Improving Your Sleeping Posture:
When you are trying to prevent the sleep apnea problem, you should improve your sleeping posture. You must have a proper pillow and maintain the height of the pillow so that you won’t have any breathing problems when you are asleep.
Summary:
If you think that you are suffering from sleep apnea, then you must not ignore it and get the treatment as soon as possible. You can follow some home remedies to boost the treatment. In this way, you can reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. As per the healthcare professionals, prescribed medications and sometimes surgery are part of the necessary approaches to treat this condition.
