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Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder that primarily manifests itself during the nighttime, making it challenging to self-diagnose. Understanding the symptoms associated with Sleep Apnea is essential for recognizing this condition and seeking appropriate treatment. 

Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:

 

Here are some common Sleep Apnea Symptoms.

1. Loud Snoring

2. Breathing Cessation

3. Restlessness

4. Sudden Waking

5. Thirst and Dry Mouth

6. Daytime Sleepiness

7. Morning Headache

8. Mood Swings

9. Loss of attention and Concentration

Sleep apnea symptoms

 

Night-time Sleep Apnea Symptoms: 

 

  1. Loud Snoring: One of the most common symptom of Sleep Apnea is loud snoring. While snoring can also be a symptom of Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), in Sleep Apnea, it tends to be more pronounced and may be disruptive to both the affected individual and their bed partner. 
  1. Breathing Cessation: People with Sleep Apnea frequently experience interrupted breathing patterns during sleep. These episodes of breathing cessation can result in choking or gasping, and they often occur multiple times throughout the night. 
  1. Restlessness: Sleep Apnea can lead to restlessness during sleep. Individuals with this condition may find it challenging to remain asleep, leading to frequent awakenings and a disrupted sleep cycle. 
  1. Sudden Waking: Due to the loss of breath, individuals with Sleep Apnea may abruptly wake up during the night, often feeling as though they are choking. These interruptions can cause fragmented and poor-quality sleep. 
  1. Frequent Bathroom Visits: Some people with Sleep Apnea may experience the need to urinate frequently during the night, disrupting their sleep further. 
  1. Thirst and Dry Mouth: Frequent awakenings to drink water or a persistently dry or sore throat upon awakening can be indicative of Sleep Apnea. Breathing through the mouth due to airway obstruction during sleep can contribute to this symptom.

 

Day-time Sleep Apnea Symptoms: 

 

  1. Daytime Sleepiness: Feeling excessively tired, groggy, and sleep-deprived upon waking in the morning is a hallmark Sleep Apnea Symptom. The disrupted sleep patterns associated with this condition can lead to persistent daytime sleepiness, impacting a person's quality of life. 
  1. Morning Headaches: Frequent morning headaches can be attributed to Sleep Apnea Symptoms. Reduced oxygen levels in the blood can cause blood vessels to dilate, leading to these headaches. 
  1. Dry Throat and Mouth: Dry or sore throat upon waking is another common sign of Sleep Apnea. This is often a result of breathing through the mouth due to airway obstruction, leading to decreased moisture in the oral cavity. 
  1. Mood Swings: Sleep Apnea can have a profound impact on mood. Feelings of irritability, anxiety, and even depression can arise when a person consistently fails to obtain restorative sleep. These mood swings can strain relationships and overall well-being. 
  1. Loss of Attention and Concentration: Sleep Apnea can impair cognitive functions, making it difficult for individuals to concentrate for extended periods. Memory problems and lapses in attention may also be experienced. 

 

Causes of Sleep Apnea

 

Sleep Apnea can result from various factors, including obesity, anatomical factors like a narrow airway, and a family history of the condition. Lifestyle choices, such as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, can also contribute to its development. 

Recognizing the Sleep Apnea symptoms, during sleep and throughout the day, is crucial for its early detection and management. Addressing Sleep Apnea can significantly improve an individual's quality of life and overall health. If you suspect you or someone you know may have Sleep Apnea, it's important to consult a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.

 

Know more like Treatment of Sleep Apnea and Myths about Sleep Apnea

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Sleep Revitalizes your Mind, Body, & Heart

The body goes under many transformations, while it is in the state of rest during sleep. There are many essential functions that take place in the body such as tissue repair, memory and energy restoration, release of essential hormones, muscle relaxation, and others. While you are asleep, the brain releases indispensable hormones that promote tissue growth. This process helps your body rejuvenate from the daily hustle bustle. Moreover, tissue growth aids in the recovery from wounds or cuts. Sunita Kumar, Co-Director, Centre for Sleep Disorders, Loyola University Medical Centre, aptly remarks that during sleep the body produces more white blood cells, to fight countless bacteria and viruses1. The heart rate also registers a dip during sleep, which according to Ms. Kumar, strengthens the heart as it is at rest with lowered activity. Moreover, a good night’s sleep also reduces the chances of getting afflicted with heart diseases.

Good Sleep = Sharp Memory

Sleep is a time, when becomes sharp and strong. Sleep quantity and quality play a fundamental role in determining what one remembers and what one doesnt. Therefore, development of long-term memory (LTM) from short-term memory (STM) happens during sleep.  Scientific researches state that the brain follows a different mechanism for storing memories through the hippocampus and neo-cortex areas. Hippocampus helps you to remember your life experiences (childhood memories), while the neo-cortex is responsible for remembering the concepts you learn (name of a color). Communications and sync between the two, helps in learning new data and updating old ones.

Sleep Steers Hormonal Hunger

Sleep not only affects your energy levels and mental functions, but also regulates your body weight. Improper sleep is related to the increasing cases of obesity, worldwide2. Many hormones which regulate the feeling of hunger (ghrelin) and signal the feeling of being full (leptin), are all influenced by the quality of your sleep.  Leptin: This is also known as satiety hormone, which is produced by the fat cells of the body. It prevents overeating by sending signals to the brain that the body does not require more food, as there is enough to fuel the body.  Ghrelin: This hunger hormone is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, which signifies the body that there is need for food. This hormone rises in the body, when you feel hungry and decreases when you have consumed some food.  Studies show that people who have disrupted patterns of sleep - have larger appetite, because of higher ghrelin secretion and lowered secretion of leptin. This imbalance in the secretion of these hormones is a result of improper sleep patterns3.

Now that we have talked about why sleep is essential, in the next section - we will be discussing in detail some of the significant parameters, that define good or bad sleep.

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Reference

1

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/discomfort-15/better-sleep/healing-power-sleep?page=2

2

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3619301/

3

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3619301/

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