Are you worried that you or a loved one may have obstructive sleep apnea? While sleep apnea is a serious condition, it is treatable. In fact, many people have found themselves feeling better than ever once they seek and are consistent with treatment. Don’t ignore the signs of sleep apnea. If you think you may have it, we are here to help with diagnosis and treatment options.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
- Brain Fog
A common marker of sleep apnea is brain fog. It impacts your ability to concentrate and impedes memory. If you’ve ever had a night of poor sleep, you’ll understand this feeling. But imagine experiencing this over and over again for a long period of time. It can end up impacting your relationships and for some, their careers.
- Moodiness
If you are waking up each morning without feeling refreshed and potentially with a headache, you likely aren’t going to be in a very positive mood. This can inevitably make you more irritable and even sad.
- Depression
There has been a link shown between sleep apnea and depression. Thankfully, treating the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can help to alleviate feelings of depression.
- Snoring
Do you know anyone who snores consistently or is it something you notice yourself doing by waking up gasping for breath? Snoring happens when the tissues in the throat relax and partially block the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a narrowing of the airway causes pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. The overlap often indicates the same cause. You may even awake with a dry mouth because of this.
- Obesity
Many that are diagnosed with OSA are obese. The most common cause of sleep apnea is obesity which causes excess tissue in the mouth and throat. Thankfully, losing weight has been shown to aid in symptoms.
Diagnosis
Finding a diagnosis is simpler than you may think. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, you should speak to your physician. Describe the symptoms you are experiencing. They will likely refer you to PulseAir for a portable sleep study or an in-laboratory sleep study (polysomnography). Your sleep study will be analyzed by sleep specialists and the results will be sent to your doctor. You will then talk with them about treatment options.
Treatment
If your results show that you have sleep apnea, immediate treatment is necessary, as OSA is a very serious disorder. There are a variety of treatment options for it, but most doctors recommend positive airway pressure therapy. PAP therapy is safe and effective. This is most often done through CPAP treatment (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). We have a variety of technologies that can adapt the CPAP equipment to be comfortable and individualized for each user.
Sleep apnea is serious but completely treatable. We’re here to help guide you through the process and find a solution that meets your needs. Contact us to help start the process.