Do You Have Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
If you believe you have obstructive sleep apnea, discussing the issue and scheduling a sleep study will be optimal for your health. Dr. Jeremy McConnell of Florida Sleep Specialists is a sleep specialist with offices in Bradenton & Sarasota, FL. Our doctor wishes to alert you about how dangerous obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is to your overall health.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea, And Who Is at Risk?
OSA happens when your sleep is interrupted by an obstructed airway. This obstruction can be your tongue or oral muscles, causing a lack of moving air. Muscles relaxing plus a narrowed airway can cause obstructed airways, which do not allow air to pass through the throat and into your lungs.
After 5 to 10 seconds of no breathing, your body triggers your brain to take emergency breaths, causing you to awaken, gasping, as if suddenly choking. If you do not seek treatment as soon as possible, it can, over time, lead to serious health issues due to sleep deprivation, such as a stroke or heart attack. You may not realize you have OSD at first, as you might mistake this for a restless night or stress.
Our sleep specialist doctor at Florida Sleep Specialists in Bradenton & Sarasota, FL, state that those at a higher risk for having OSD are,
- Those with Down Syndrome
- Men suffer more from OSD
- Smokers
- Swollen/large adenoids in children
- Those with chronic nasal congestion
- If you are overweight/obese
- Postmenopausal women
- Family members with OSD
- Thick-necked individuals
- Endocrine or thyroid disorder
Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The following are a few signs and symptoms of OSD.
- Snoring followed by a period of quiet
- Frequent sleeping during the day
- Depression
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty remembering
- Easily irritated
To properly diagnose OSD, our doctor may examine your neck, throat, and mouth. He will ask you questions regarding your lack of sleep symptoms, your nightly sleep, and how it's affecting your daily life.
Our doctor may order a sleep study in your home or sleep center. A sleep study consists of electrodes and a monitor attached to you that records your heart rate and oxygen levels, showing how often apnea may occur at night.
If diagnosed with OSD, our doctor may prescribe a CPAP machine, which forces air into your airways to keep them open while sleeping. This condition is treatable with proper diagnosis.
Schedule your appointment today!
Dr. McConnell, a sleep specialist with Florida Sleep Specialists in Bradenton & Sarasota, FL, wants to help you get a good night's sleep every night. Call and schedule an appointment to discuss your sleep issues.
- Sarasota, FL: (941) 827-0701
- Bradenton, FL : (941) 792-8383