If you’re frequently tired during the day and wake up multiple times at night, you might suffer from sleep apnea. This is a serious condition that many adults experience in the United States. Fortunately, it’s easy to identify, and, once you’ve been diagnosed, it isn’t that hard to treat either.
Complications Caused by Sleep Apnea
There are a lot of difficulties that sleep apnea may bring into your life, and it’s critical to be aware of them as indicators of the condition itself. The most typical side effect is that you feel weary during the day and wake up frequently at night, but there are other symptoms you should look out for. You can also snore loudly at night, causing discomfort to those around you and even waking up with a sore throat. It’s possible to wake up with a sore throat in the morning if you don’t get enough sleep. It’s difficult to concentrate during the day when you don’t get enough sleep, and figuring out how to improve your sleeping habits may be the key to accomplishing more.
Snoring or Sleep Apnea?
While it may be tough to differentiate between simple snoring and sleep apnea, there are a few indicators that can help you make the determination. If you’re a heavy snorer, here’s how to decide if you have sleep apnea too.
Do You Pause While Breathing?
Sleep apnea is indicated by frequently pausing during sleep. If you have trouble breathing and then start up again, it’s more likely that you suffer from sleep apnea. That’s a big symptom of the condition, and something you should keep an eye out for. Having a loved one listen to you while you sleep or record yourself sleeping at night is the best approach to determine if you stop breathing during sleep. When you start having trouble breathing, which is caused by sleep apnea, you’ll undoubtedly be able to hear a difference in your breathing pattern.
Is Your Breathing Shallow?
Another symptom of sleep apnea is shallow breathing, which is easy to spot. Shallow breathers breathe more frequently than deep breathers. If you have someone monitor your sleeping habits or record your sleep, you’ll notice that you breathe a lot if you suffer from sleep apnea.
Are You Tired During the Day?
You might assume that you’re not getting enough sleep at night if you wake up feeling exhausted. However, this could be because of the quality of your sleep instead of the quantity. Poor sleeping patterns can lead to other symptoms too, such as sleep apnea. So, if you have some daytime fatigue as well as other potential indicators for sleep apnea, it’s likely that’s what is causing your drowsiness. If you’re frequently tired during the day and find yourself snoring or pausing often in your sleep, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. Fixing the problem could help you feel more wide awake throughout the day. In Frederick, Maryland, it’s a great idea to visit a specialist and get checked out–there might be an easy fix for your problem!
Getting Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Frederick Maryland
It’s a good idea to get tested for sleep apnea if you have any of the signs. If you’re given a positive diagnosis, you should get treatment for the condition. Maintaining good health is a multi-step process that must be taken seriously. The first step to treating sleep apnea is visiting a specialist and spending the night while being monitored.
You’ll be hooked up to machines that track your sleep patterns and try to determine what problems you’re suffering from when you’re asleep at night. The results of this test can help you identify the root cause of your sleep problems and fatigue. It might not be immediately clear that it’s sleep apnea, but the results should give you a better idea of what’s going on.
When the results of the test come back and the experts spend time going through them thoroughly, you’ll be given ideas on how to fix it. The best approach to figuring out how to repair the problem is to experiment with the various recommendations provided by the professional. After some time passes, you’ll get to the root of your sleep apnea and how to keep it from negatively impacting your night. With treatment, you’ll feel better throughout the day and finally be able to enjoy going to bed again.
For help with your sleep apnea problems in Frederick, Maryland, get in touch with Jeffrey W. Cross, D.D.S., F.A.G.D, by calling (301) 662-0300. You’ll speak with an experienced professional and find out what your options are to take care of the problem and start feeling better.