Could I Be Suffering From Sleep Apnea?
Many people believe snoring to be just a minor annoyance, but snoring may actually be an indication of a much larger problem. Though around twelve million Americans have sleep apnea, many are unaware that they suffer from this common condition. Simply put, if you have sleep apnea, your breathing is repeatedly interrupted when you sleep. However, because these interruptions are usually brief and occur in the middle of the night, they are often forgotten.
As a result, identifying sleep apnea can be difficult. The symptoms of sleep apnea can impact your waking hours as well as your quality of sleep, and typically include:
- Loud snoring
- Choking sounds while sleeping
- Waking up gasping for air
- Headaches
- Teeth grinding
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Constant drowsiness
- Abbreviated attention span
If you suspect that you or your partner may have sleep apnea, an at-home sleep study can be conducted to determine the cause of these symptoms. Prior to a sleep apnea diagnosis, some of our patients suffered from headaches or daytime drowsiness without understanding why.
There are a number of treatments for sleep apnea that can help you get a better night’s sleep and ultimately improve your overall quality of life. To learn more about sleep apnea, or to schedule a consultation, please contact our office today.