| Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person to | | | | relaxing so far as to collapse the windpipe upon |
| frequently stop breathing when sleeping. The episodes | | | | inhaling. When the brain triggers the muscles to tighten |
| occur as often as a hundred times a night, and can | | | | to breathe again, the arousal is accompanied by a |
| last up to a minute each. Over 10 million Americans | | | | snort. |
| experience sleep apnea symptoms, but only 0.6 million | | | | Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep |
| have actually been diagnosed. Undiagnosed cases are | | | | are the less easily noticed sleep apnea symptoms. |
| attributed to a lack of awareness within the general | | | | This means that someone else actually witnessed the |
| and health populations. In addition, sleep apnea | | | | sleeper stop breathing. Abrupt awakening with |
| symptoms arise from feeling tired, which is a common | | | | shortness of breath after these episodes is more |
| occurrence and may not be recognized as a | | | | often a central sleep apnea symptom, than of |
| symptom to investigate. | | | | obstructive, which means the brain, is not sending |
| There are three classifications of sleep apnea | | | | proper signals to the breathing muscles. |
| symptoms: obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive | | | | Difficulty staying asleep is one of the sleep apnea |
| is the most common sleep apnea. It involves the | | | | symptoms directly related to the frequent awaken |
| relaxation of the throat muscles to the point of | | | | signals issued by the brain. When the blood oxygen |
| obstructing the airway. Sleep apnea symptoms include | | | | level drops, the body responds, arousing the sleeper |
| excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, abrupt | | | | long enough to resume breathing. The sleep pattern, |
| awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, | | | | therefore, is frequently interrupted resulting in |
| morning headache, difficulty staying asleep, awakening | | | | restlessness. |
| with dry mouth or sore throat. | | | | Morning headache, along with dry mouth and sore |
| Sleep apnea symptoms are not unusual. Sometimes | | | | throat are sleep apnea symptoms resulting from lack |
| the symptoms for obstructive and central sleep apnea | | | | of oxygen to the brain, and the frequent gasps for air |
| overlap, making definitive diagnoses difficult. The | | | | when breathing is resumed. In addition, mental |
| severity and frequency of sleep apnea symptoms are | | | | impairment from restlessness and interrupted sleep |
| important to note. Daytime sleepiness is one of the | | | | can result in memory lapses, problems concentrating, |
| sleep apnea symptoms that could easily be | | | | personality changes and even depression. |
| considered working too hard, bad week, etc, but are | | | | Sleep apnea symptoms, left untreated, can lead to |
| the frequency and consistencies excessive. Do you | | | | potentially dangerous and life threatening |
| fall asleep without warning? Do you fall asleep at | | | | consequences, such as hypertension and |
| inappropriate times? Do you feel drowsy for days, | | | | cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, sleep apnea |
| even weeks in a row? | | | | symptoms, though common and sometimes vague |
| Loud snoring is one of the most common sleep apnea | | | | can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatments |
| symptoms. Loud snoring, especially snorting could be | | | | exist and research to develop additional options is |
| worth investigating. With obstructive sleep apnea, sleep | | | | ongoing. |
| apnea symptoms result from the throat muscles | | | | |