Sleep Apnea Disorder Article
Obesity and Sleep Apnea-Important Information
Sleep apnea is an extremely dangerous problem that can be caused by being severely overweight. You may suffer from sleep apnea and not even be aware of it, until it is too late. If you aren’t familiar with sleep apnea, it means that you temporarily stop breathing while you sleep. In some cases, people don’t start breathing again in time, and don’t wake up, so they basically die from suffocation in their sleep. Sleep apnea is usually caused by an airway blockage, most often being extra tissue in the throat, tonsils, or even your tongue. Being overweight can exacerbate these problems, so if you have sleep apnea, you should try to get your weight back under control. Sleep apnea causes other symptoms other than breathing problems, many which can actually lead doctors to diagnose your disorder.
Most people who suffer from sleep apnea snore loud enough at night to not only disturb themselves, but make others in the home miserable as well. It may be so bad that your spouse leaves the bed, shuts the door, goes in another room, and turns on the television or radio in an attempt to drown out the incessant drone of your snoring. So, even if you sleep well, you can guarantee that your spouse cannot.
You may often wake up with a tremendous headache, even though you slept well the night before. This too is a symptom of sleep apnea, caused by the brain not getting enough oxygen while you sleep. These headaches can be very debilitating, making it hard for you to function normally.
People who have sleep apnea often wake up after sleeping all night to still feel tired, as though they didn’t sleep at all, even though they have been in bed for more than eight hours. This is caused by the your sleep apnea interrupting your sleep, making it impossible for you to get enough REM sleep that your body needs for rest and relaxation.
Chances are, people who suffer from sleep apnea often wake up feeling as though they have sand in their mouth, due to the fact that they likely slept all night with their mouth open. They feel as though they can breathe better through their mouth, and the air in the room dries them out.
Sleep apnea sufferers are also more likely to have high blood pressure, which can be very dangerous as well. This often stems from not being able to get the rest you need, due to sleep being interrupted by your sleep apnea condition. It is hard for your body to regulate the blood flow to and from your heart if it is extremely fatigued.
Not getting enough sleep will also likely cause you to be grumpy, even with those people who mean the most to you, such as your spouse and children. This often overflows into everyone you deal with, friends, coworkers, etc. You may find that you no longer have the patience to deal with everyday life, which can lead to all sorts of problems for you if left untreated.
Other sleep apnea symptoms include lack of focus on everyday tasks, inability to concentrate, lowered sex drive, and excessive urination and perspiration caused by being overweight. In most cases, sleep apnea is actually caused by being severely overweight. If you start making healthier food choices, and exercising for at least thirty minutes a day, you will start noticing that your sleep apnea symptoms will slowly disappear.
