Sleep apnea is a serious life-threatening sleep disease. In this breathing stops and begins repeatedly. You can have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and are fatigued even after a full night’s sleep. The major types of symptoms and causes of sleep apnea are:
- Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most frequent type of apnea. It happens when the muscles in the throat relax.
- Central sleep apnea: It occurs when the brain fails to deliver appropriate signals to the muscles that govern breathing.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome: It is another name for complex sleep apnea syndrome, which happens when someone has both obstructive and central sleep apnea.
It is important to consult your doctor if you suspect you have sleep apnea. Read the following symptoms and causes to know more about it.
Symptoms and causes of Sleep apnea
Because the clinical signs of obstructive and central sleep apneas are similar, it can be difficult to tell which one they have. The following are some of the most prevalent symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas:
- Obnoxious snoring
- Events in which you stop breathing while sleeping. Only another person might report
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Awakening with a dry tongue
- Headache in the morning
- Having trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Excessive drowsiness during the day (hypersomnia)
- Paying attention while awake is difficult
- Mood changes
When to see a doctor
Although loud snoring can indicate a major problem. So, not everyone with sleep apnea and snoring. If you experience indications or symptoms of sleep apnea, consult your doctor. Consult your doctor if you’re tired, sleepy, or irritable due to a sleep problem.
Causes of Sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea
When the muscles in the back of the throat loosen, this happens. The soft palate, the triangular portion of tissue dangling from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils, the sidewalls of the throat, and the tongue are all supported by these muscles.
As you breathe in, your airways narrow or shut as your muscles relax. You are not getting enough air. This makes your blood oxygen level drop. When your brain detects that you are unable to breathe, it briefly wakes you up. This happens so that you can clear your airway.
Central sleep apnea
When your brain fails to relay instructions to your breathing muscles, you get this less common form of sleep apnea. For a short amount of time, you do not attempt to breathe. You can wake up with shortness of breath. Also, find it difficult to fall or stay asleep.
