Have you ever been suddenly woken up in the middle of your sleep due to the inability to breathe? Or, does your bed-mate always complain that you snore a lot and they’re frequently disturbed by it? This may not sound too serious and seem like a minor breathing issue, but it is much more! It’s called obstructive sleep apnea.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a major breathing disorder where the patient experiences a sudden inability to breathe when they’re sleeping. This occurs due to the collapse of the tissues in the throat that block the airway. The continuous supply of oxygen to the lungs and to the brain will be interrupted, which is when the brain signals the body to wake up. People who experience obstructive sleep apnea find it quite traumatic and disturbing as they experience a sudden jolt due to the blockage in the throat.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
- Sleep apnea majorly leads to lack of sleep. Since the patient is woken up from sleep quite frequently, the chances for them reaching deep sleep are next to none. This makes the patient feel sleepy during the daytime, which is why they tend to doze off often.
- Inadequate sleep makes the patient feel tired all day long. Lethargy would slowly set in which could indirectly lead to obesity. The cholesterol build up would in-turn fuel sleep apnea as the blockage near the throat would worsen.
- Bruxism is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Bruxism is the subconscious grinding of teeth during sleep, which leads to TMJ disorder and excessive wear of teeth.
- Recurring headaches, especially soon after waking up, and sore throat due to snoring are pretty common.
Oral appliances to overcome sleep apnea
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