Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

You may have sleep apnea if you wake up gasping for breath or can’t concentrate because you are overly tired.

According to Web MD, Sleep Apnea is something that affects millions of people all over the world and, if not taken care of, can lead to other life threatening conditions including stroke and heart attack.

If you have been following Dr. Ringer’s blog, you will have learned that Sleep Apnea affects people who are overweight, but obesity is simply a risk factor as you may have sleep apnea even if you are not obese.

Sleep Apnea affects more men than women, but is more common in women who have thick necks and women who are menopausal or in post menopause.

Most people believe that snoring is a sure sign of Sleep Apnea. However, not everyone who snores has Sleep Apnea. In fact, most snorers do not have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, which is the most common form of Sleep Apnea. However as Dr. Ringer explains, if you snore loud enough to wake up your partner and it occurs every night, it may be time to schedule an appointment with your doctor who will determine if you need to be referred to a sleep specialist for a sleep study.

Just like snoring, waking up to catch a breath is the most common sign witnessed by your bed partner. People who have Sleep Apnea will often wake up to gasp for air. Sometimes those frequent wake ups every few seconds can happen anywhere from 10 to 100 times an hour in people who have been diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea.

If your partner complains about your snoring, or has witnessed you waking up at night, you may have sleep apnea. Nowadays physicians are seeing more partners coming into their practice with YouTube videos showing exactly what they put up with every night. Those little movies are usually very convincing when it comes to Sleep Apnea.

Unfortunately, for people who sleep alone, the signs of Sleep Apnea may not be as noticeable. You may be suffering from Sleep Apnea if you are extremely tired during the day or if you wake up with a headache. Other signs that you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea include insomnia, irritability and falling asleep at work, in front of the television, or even while you are behind the wheel.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, or you believe that you you may have sleep apnea, talk to Dr. Ringer who has specialized training in Oral Appliance Therapy and can help you with the best appliance design for your particular needs. Call or click today.