How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea?
How do I know if I have sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing is repeatedly interrupted throughout the night. There are a few telltale signs, such as snoring, bruxism at night, night sweats, and many more.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing is repeatedly interrupted throughout the night. This disorder is extremely common, affecting over 25 million Americans.
Nonetheless, it can be very serious, leading to many dangerous health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause your health to suffer and your quality of life to decrease.
So, how do you know if you have Sleep Apnea?
There are a few telltale signs:
Snoring
Loud, chronic snoring is perhaps the most common symptom of Sleep Apnea. Has your partner complained about your snoring, or even left the bedroom completely because of it? If so, your snoring may be something to worry about.
Not all snoring suggests sleep apnea, but when it starts causing people to speak up, it may be something that needs to be checked out. Ask your partner if they hear loud gasping or choking when you’re asleep.
They might even hear the telltale sign of loud snoring followed by a period of silence and then a loud snort or gasp of air. That sequence of events is a classic apneic episode.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) at Night
People who clench or grind their teeth (brux) during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing which might indicate sleep apnea.
Many research studies have found that a higher-than-expected percentage of people have both OSA and sleep-related bruxism.
Night Sweats
Excessive sweatiness at night can also be an indication of sleep apnea in both men and women. Some women attribute their hot flashes at night to menopause, when actually sleep apnea is the true culprit.
Hot flashes exclusively at night, in fact, are more commonly induced by sleep apnea than menopause. Do you find yourself waking up sweaty during the night?
Are you constantly taking your feet out from under the covers or completely taking the covers off during the night? If so, then sleep apnea is high on the list.
Other Signs of Sleep Apnea
Likewise, do you ever wake up with jaw pain or a morning headache? Do you notice drool on your pillow or a dry mouth when you start your morning? Again, Sleep Apnea may be at play. How about experiencing excessive nighttime urination or nighttime heartburn?
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