Sleep Apnea

Know the Symptoms

Since this condition happens while you’re sleeping, you may not even be aware that you suffer from it. Here are some signs you may have sleep apnea:

• Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
• Loud snoring at night
• Waking up at night short of breath
• Snorting or choking sounds during the night (indicating a restart of breathing)
• Headaches upon waking in the morning
• Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
• Extreme drowsiness throughout the day

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea and you can have more than one kind. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which happens when something blocks the airway and prevents breathing. Usually, this is the collapse of soft tissue at the back of the throat. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is when breathing stops due to a lack of signal from the brain. Finally, there is complex sleep apnea, which is where the patient has both types of sleep apnea simultaneously.

Sleep Apnea Can Be Dangerous

People suffering from untreated sleep apnea have been injured in car accidents and other mishaps because of their chronic exhaustion. Others experience a significant decline in their health, as the chronic oxygen deprivation caused by sleep apnea has been shown to increase blood pressure and raise the chances of a heart attack.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Although sleep apnea is a serious condition, the available treatments are relatively easy to incorporate into your nighttime routine. One option Dr. White Brown offers is a device you wear while sleeping that helps to better position the jaw, avoiding obstruction of the airway. There are others if this does not work, including CPAP machines and surgery for severe conditions.

Learn More About Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Columbia, Greenville, Orangeburg & Florence, SC