Photo by Kinga Cichewicz

Originally Posted On: https://goodmenproject.com/health/possible-causes-of-sleep-apnea/

Sleep apnea can do more than just make someone annoying when they are sleeping. In extreme cases, sleep apnea can have a negative impact on one’s lifestyle.

Sleep apnea is a rather common sleep disorder. Anyone who snores in their sleep suffers from this disorder. Sleep apnea can do more than just make someone annoying when they are sleeping. In extreme cases, sleep apnea can have a negative impact on one’s lifestyle. Today we are going to take a deeper look at this disorder. And in doing so, we will also look at how can one deal with their sleep apnea.

When we’re asleep, our body’s muscles tend to relax and loosen up. People who suffer from sleep apnea have the muscles in their throat loosen up when they’re asleep. This leads to their airway becoming restricted. As a result, during their sleep, their breathing randomly stops and starts again. In most cases, sleep apnea is a lot less serious than it actually sounds. However, if left untreated, the disorder can become harmful over time. This is why it is important for you to identify sleep apnea and treat it.

When we’re asleep, our body’s muscles tend to relax and loosen up. People who suffer from sleep apnea have the muscles in their throat loosen up when they’re asleep. This leads to their airway becoming restricted. As a result, during their sleep, their breathing randomly stops and starts again. In most cases, sleep apnea is a lot less serious than it actually sounds. However, if left untreated, the disorder can become harmful over time. This is why it is important for you to identify sleep apnea and treat it.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Fortunately, sleep apnea is quite easy to spot. And once you have identified the disorder, you can begin treating it. There are a variety of treatments available in the market. Sleep Apnea treatment machine, Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, can provide long-lasting relief from this disorder. You can check out WellAwareSystems to learn more about these machines.

One doesn’t necessarily need mechanical assistance to fix their sleep apnea. Some types of sleep apnea can even be fixed with a few minor lifestyle changes. Knowing your symptoms will help you figure out what kind of sleep apnea do you have.

• Snoring is the most obvious symptom of sleep apnea.
• Other symptoms include restless sleep.
• People also experience sleepiness during the day.
• You may randomly wake up during the night due to trouble with breathing.
• General irritability due to fatigue.
• Heartburn in the morning.
• A decrease in your overall libido.

Treatment Options

Just like with any other disorder, sleep apnea can be caused by certain lifestyle choices. For instance, people who smoke frequently and drink alcohol are more susceptible to sleep apnea. You can try cutting back on the tobacco and alcohol. People who are overweight are also more likely to develop sleep apnea.

The first step to treatment is to figure out what might you be doing wrong. Work on reducing your weight and cut back on harmful substances. Another simple treatment can be to develop a habit of sleeping on your side. Doing so can help in opening up your airways. You can also invest in special pillows that correct your neck posture when you’re asleep. These pillows ensure that your airway does not get constricted, making breathing easier.

If all of the above methods don’t lead to improvement, you should consider going to a doctor. A doctor can provide you with better guidance on how to deal with your disorder. More advanced cases of sleep apnea often require you to buy air pressure regulating devices. These devices maintain positive air pressure in your throat during sleep. This prevents your airway from closing in on itself. As a result, your breathing remains unrestricted. The downside of these machines is that they are bulky and can also be uncomfortable to wear.

A less intrusive treatment can be done with a Mandibular Repositioning Device (MRD). These are custom made inserts that can be placed in the mouth for relief from mild cases of sleep apnea. MRDs can be uncomfortable as well. They are known for causing tooth pain and tiring your jaw muscles.

The most extreme cases of sleep apnea can only be fixed with surgery. Surgical procedures can help remove loose muscles in order to widen the airways. This surgery can be quite invasive.

Sleep apnea can become rather annoying to treat. Most of the treatment options come with discomfort. However, sleep apnea can become really frustrating in the long run if left untreated. It can compromise your quality of life and deteriorate your health. Sleep apnea can also make you annoying for anyone who sleeps with you. This is why it is important to deal with this disorder. It is better to nip it in the bud when it is still relatively under control.