| Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you stop breathing while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a snort or choking sound. Sleep apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that may disrupt your sleep. You often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep when your breathing pauses or becomes shallow (hypopnea). This results in poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness which leads to motor vehicle and work related accidents. Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Most people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member and/or bed partner may first notice the signs of sleep apnea.
Untreated sleep apnea can:
- Increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes
- Increase the risk of, or worsen, heart failure
- Make arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, more likely
- Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents
- Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that requires long-term management. Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea in many people.
|
