Don’t ignore the snore
See why knowing about breathing disturbances is an important health metric, because they directly impact the restorativeness of sleep, and these pauses may be linked to sleep apnea.
What is Sleep apnea
During sleep, it is possible to experience interruptions in breathing, and you may not remember it in the morning. Paused breathing during sleep is not uncommon, and it’s often totally normal to have them a few times during the night, and a few pauses won’t have any noticeable impact on one’s sleep, health, and daily life. But when breathing problems occur too many times during sleep, they can be an indication of a chronic condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can indeed have a negative impact on your overall health.
The odds that you’ll experience sleep apnea increase with age and weight, and it is more likely to occur in men and postmenopausal women. It is estimated that more than 5% of all adults have sleep apnea, and some don’t even know they have it.
There are three types of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea and its symptoms
Sleep apnea is associated with several symptoms during the night:
These issues decrease your sleep quality, which in turn have daytime consequences including:
- Morning headache
- Short-term memory or learning problems
- Feeling irritable
- Poor concentration or attention
- Changes in mood, including depression
Please note: those symptoms do not always correlate with sleep apnea (only 1 snorer out of 5 is believed to be an apneic). There are also other diseases that can have an impact on your breathing during sleep, including but not limited to asthma, obesity, hyperventilation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
If you are concerned about your breathing disturbances, or any other sleep health issue, always consult with your physician. Only a doctor can make a sleep apnea diagnosis.
How Sleep Apnea impacts your health
Because Sleep apnea affects your sleep, it impairs your brain’s ability to recover, causing symptoms associated with a lack of sleep and brain oxygenation—the seriousness of which can vary.
How to prevent and fight sleep apnea
Manage your weight:
60% of apneics are overweight or obese (with a BMI above 25). Physicians measure the neck circumference, because the risk of sleep apnea increases with as the size increases. Losing just a few pounds can sometimes alleviate the condition, and drastic weight reduction can, at times, been known to completely suppress it.
Exercise regularly:
Frequent physical activity is proven to benefit overall wellness and improve sleep quality and cardiovascular fitness.
Be responsible with smoking and drinking:
Alcohol and drugs or prescription medications can sometimes decrease breathing by relaxing the central nervous system, which leads to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Smoke also inflames the upper airway, causing swelling and damage to the cardiovascular system.
Keep a regular sleep schedule:
Consistent bedtime and rise times will benefit your sleep quality and decrease your sleep debt. By simply maintaining a more consistent sleep schedule as well as an optimal sleep environment, you may improve some sleep apnea disorders and symptoms.
