How Can I Tell If I Have Sleep Apnea

Breathing is an essential and complex process performed by our respiratory system. It involves taking in air, allowing oxygen to enter our bloodstream, and allowing the body to function properly. The system includes our nose, throat (pharynx), trachea, lungs, and diaphragm and works by inhaling, filling the lungs, exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, and exhaling.

This is one of many functions we do autonomically (without needing to actively control the action), and this is important when sleeping. Sleep apnea is a sleeping problem that creates breathing issues that make getting into deep sleep very difficult. Millions of people deal with it, but to know if you have it you should know what signs to look for.

Residents of the West Midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, looking for sleep apnea treatment can get help from Dr Shivan Amin and his dedicated staff at Midtown ENT.

Understanding sleep apnea

As you sleep, your body goes through a series of cycles to enter deep sleep, which often repeats several times during the night. Sleep apnea is a condition that interrupts your breathing and keeps you from entering the deep, rapid eye movement (REM) state. There are three different kinds of sleep apnea, with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)being the most common. In this type, tissue in the breathing airway becomes blocked, causing apnea and leading to reduced or no breathing several times a night.

Symptoms to look for

Typically people struggling with sleep apnea experience several symptoms, such as:

Snoring: a common symptom that can indicate this and other problems
Daytime fatigue: feeling listless and exhausted during the day is common
Altered mood: mood changes can result from the lack of sleep
Repeatedly waking up during the night: the breathing issues lead to not staying asleep
Odd breathing patterns: Even if you don’t stop breathing, it can create odd patterns while sleeping
Breathing pauses: another common symptom
Insomnia: also connected to the breathing issues that make staying asleep difficult

In children, this condition can resemble attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as it can present with hyperactivity, focusing problems, and poor performance. They may also deal with bedwetting, loud snoring, frequent limb movement during sleep, night sweats, reflux, and sleeping in odd positions.

Methods of treatment

Several devices are used to manage this sleeping illness, such as the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device (one of the most common treatments), auto-titrating positive airway pressure (APAP), and bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), which keep the airway open as you rest. Mouthpieces are also an option to perform the same task. As obesity can increase the risk of this problem, specific drugs like Zepbound® can be used to help lose weight and reduce the issues with sleep apnea.

There are several signs you can have this illness, and if you think you do, make an appointment with Dr. Amin and his team at Midtown ENT Today.