Demystifying Sleep Apnea
Sleep Exhaustion - a common sign of Sleep Apnea
What is Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It is the most common sleep disorder.
Sleep Apnea is like a traffic jam in your throat during sleep. Your body wants to breathe, but something gets in the way, stopping you from taking in air for a few seconds or even minutes. This happens over and over throughout the night, leaving you feeling tired and grumpy even after a full sleep.
What are the signs that you might have Sleep Apnea
There are several telltale signs that you or your partner can monitor while you sleep:
Loud Snoring
Gasping for Air while sleeping
Restless Sleep that includes frequent tossing, turning, and kicking that disrupts your sleep
Additional signs during the day, while you are awake include:
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
Morning Headaches
Difficulty in Concentration
What is the most common type of Sleep Apnea
The most common version of Sleep Apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Your airway is obstructed by your tongue and soft palate relaxing too much. This causes loud snoring and gasping for air.
How Common is Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a surprisingly common sleep disorder, affecting a significant portion of the population across different age groups.
About 5%-10% of adults (globally) experience Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), about 39 million adults in the US alone.
The actual numbers is likely higher as milder forms of sleep apnea largely goes undiagnosed.
The following indicators are more relevant for early indications:
Men are twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with OSA.
OSA increases with age. 24% of men and 9% of women over 65 years old have it.
Excess weight is a major risk factor, with higher rates in individuals with obesity.
Certain ethnicities have higher risk factors for OSA, like Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations.
Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea can cause serious health consequences. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly improves symptoms and reduces health risks associated with OSA.
To address your sleep issues, start with a Sleep Screening Test offered by Dr Deepali Jere, certified by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, a Sleep Specialist, and qualified to treat sleep disorders.
