Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted. This happens when the airway becomes blocked or closes during sleep. The effects can be similar to those of alcohol intoxication, resulting in impaired concentration, low mood, and memory loss.
You should consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist if you are suffering from symptoms of sleep apnea surprise, especially if you have trouble breathing during sleep. If not given proper treatment, sleep apnea might even start interrupting your daily life. So, it is always best to start the treatment early on.
Let us now see into the main symptoms of sleep apnea.
-
Loud snoring
If you snore loudly and suddenly stop breathing several times during sleep for at least ten seconds, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. Loud snoring can be a frightening sound for your bed partners, but it can also be a symptom of sleep apnea. It is better to get yourself checked out by an ear, nose, and throat specialist if you are experiencing this symptom.
-
Morning headaches
If you have been suffering from frequent headaches that are not caused by a medical condition, consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist. It might be caused by sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can make headaches worse because it interferes with the normal opening and closing of blood vessels in the brain. They are more likely to happen when you wake up because this is when hypoxia or low levels of oxygen occur.
-
Morning dry mouth
If you experience severe dry mouth while you wake up, consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist. It might be caused by sleep apnea. You can have a dry mouth when you wake up because this is when hypoxia is most likely to occur.
-
Fatigue throughout the day
Feeling tired throughout the day can be one of the most annoying symptoms of sleep apnea. It is because sleep apnea interrupts your sleep and prevents you from getting enough deep sleep. Deep sleep is essential to our body because it is when the body rests, repairs itself, and builds energy for us to use throughout the day.
-
Memory and concentration problems
Sleep apnea interferes with deep sleep and reduces the amount of brain activity, so it is no wonder that sleep apnea can interfere with your memory and concentration. In addition, sleep apnea also affects your hormones and metabolism, which means you will have trouble losing weight as well.
