Health

Signs You May Have Sleep Apnea

Sleep problems significantly affect your daily functioning and energy levels. Also, poor sleep might raise your risk for diabetes and heart disease. One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea. If you often feel tired even after a full night’s sleep or you snore loudly or wake up gasping for air, your dentist may recommend a Commack dental airway assessment to detect if you have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea occurs when your breathing is interrupted during sleep, causing you to wake up briefly to take a breath. This can happen hundreds of times a night, leading to poor sleep and other health issues.

Here are signs you may have sleep apnea.

Loud snoring

Most people snore as they sleep. However, if your snoring is so loud that it disrupts your partner’s sleep, or if you wake up feeling hoarse or with a sore throat, it could be a sign that you have sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax and narrow, making it harder for air to flow in and out. Sometimes, the airway can become completely blocked, causing a pause in breathing (known as apnea) until the brain signals the body to wake up and take a breath.

Gasping or choking during sleep

If you wake up during the night feeling like you are gasping for air, or the people close to you notice that you are choking or snorting in your sleep, it could be a sign of sleep apnea. These episodes are known as “micro-arousals,” They can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night.

During a micro-arousal, your body wakes up briefly to take a breath, but you may not remember it in the morning. Over time, these interruptions can lead to daytime sleepiness and other health issues.

Morning headaches

It is easy to dismiss a little headache due to an allergy or cold, stress, or even too much wine the previous evening. However, a pattern of morning headaches may be a sign of sleep apnea. These headaches are often caused by a lack of oxygen during sleep, leading to blood vessels in the brain dilating and causing pain.

If you are experiencing frequent morning headaches or wake up feeling unrested or with a dry mouth, it is worth talking to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea.

Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue

Everyone occasionally has a sleepless night that makes them want to nap throughout the day. If you feel excessively sleepy or tired during the day, even after what you believe was a full night’s sleep, you may have sleep apnea. When your breathing is interrupted during the night, your body has to work harder to maintain oxygen levels, which can lead to disrupted sleep and daytime fatigue.

Chronic sleepiness may make concentrating at work or school challenging, affecting your quality of life. Also, your inability to concentrate may result in severe accidents whether you are operating machinery, driving, or doing any other action that needs your full concentration.

If you are experiencing signs of sleep apnea, call Chase Dental SleepCare to book your appointment for Dental Airway Assessment to diagnose your condition.

Author Image
Chiara Brunner