How To Know If You Have Sleep Apnea?

Getting a good night’s rest is not a luxury everyone can enjoy. The reason behind this can be a plethora of different things. In most cases, it can be back pain and in other cases, it can be problems like snoring or sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more common. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs as repetitive episodes of airway blockages, which in turn causes the diaphragm and chest muscles to work harder to open the airway. 

The breathing does resume but does so with a loud gasp or a body jerk. This may happen hundreds of times in one night, up to 400 times to be exact.

If left untreated this condition has the potential to lead to serious health issues, as it reduces the flow of oxygen to the vital organs and most often tends to affect older men who are overweight.

What Are The Signs Of Sleep Apnea?

Often the first signs of sleep apnea are not recognized by the patient but instead by their bed partner. Most of those that are affected by this condition have no sleep complaints. In most cases, the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea can overlap, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.

The most common signs of whether a person has sleep apnea include:

1. Daytime fatigue or sleepiness.
2. Snoring.
3. Dry mouth or throat upon waking up.
4. Difficulty staying asleep.
5. Disturbances in mood
6. Nighttime sweats.
7. Restlessness during sleep or frequent nighttime awakenings.
8. Trouble focusing, irritability, forgetfulness, or other cognitive impairments.
9. Frequent headaches. 

These are the signs and symptoms to keep an eye out for in case you’re uncertain whether sleep apnea is to blame for your lower quality of sleep.

So, it’s fair to say that if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms you should consider the possibility of sleep apnea being the driving factor behind them.

What To Do If One Has Sleep Apnea?

If you’ve deduced that you are suffering from sleep apnea, the next step is actively working to rehabilitate it.  

In some cases, self-care might prove quite beneficial to deal with obstructive and possibly even central sleep apnea. Try these out:

1. Exercise regularly. Exercising regularly can help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk.
2. Losing excess weight. Shaving off a few pounds might relieve the constriction in your throat. In some cases, symptoms of sleep apnea regress if you return to a healthy weight but tend to recur if you gain weight again.
3. Quit smoking. If you’re a heavy smoker, look for resources to quit as smokers are three times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea.
4. Sleep on your side rather than on your back. Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and soft palate to rest against the back of your throat and block your airway. There are commercial products to keep you from rolling onto your back or you can just do it yourself with a tennis ball attached to the top of your trousers.
5. Avoid using alcohol or medications such as sleeping pills. These tend to relax your muscles which might end up causing a blockage.

If these self-care habits prove unsuccessful, it might be time to consider seeing a doctor.

Depending upon the severity of your condition your doctor might suggest certain airway pressure devices or oral devices to nullify the symptoms.

How To Tell If Someone Else Has Sleep Apnea?

If you’re concerned that your bed partner might be a victim of sleep apnea, these are the things you need to be on the lookout for to be absolutely sure.

1. Loud snoring. While snoring alone might not seem that dangerous and to an extent somewhat normal as well, it’s not normal, it can be a sign of bigger issues.
2. Irritability. If your bed partner is easily irritated or has mood disturbances.
3. Restlessness during sleep or sudden jerking movements and loud gasps for air.

How To Sleep With Someone Who Has Sleep Apnea?

There are a few things you can try if you find your partner’s snoring bothersome.

1. Try heading to bed before them. This might help if you’re a deep sleeper.
2. Try white noise machines to mask out your partner’s excessive snoring.
3. If white noise machines are a bit too much for your liking try something old-fashioned like earplugs.

The Bottom Line

that sleep apnea if caught early on can be treated with simple life changes if you act quick enough. If you don’t see the symptoms improving, a visit to a doctor is always advised.