The Dangers of Sleep Apnea and How Sleep Aids in Birmingham Can Help

Sleep apnea affects many people. It is a sleeping disorder that disrupts your ability to sleep and causes concerning health issues. Many people do not even realize they have the disorder, because a doctor cannot diagnose it unless he or she observes them sleeping. If you find yourself waking up tired each morning, no matter how much sleep you have, or if your partner awakens you throughout the night because she or he thinks you’ve stopped breathing, you might have sleep apnea.

Some Basic Information

When you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing while you’re asleep. The pauses might be short or long, depending on how severe your condition. In some cases, you might not actually stop breathing, but your breaths will become extremely shallow. Either way, your brain kicks into emergency mode because your body isn’t receiving enough oxygen and this awakens you from your sleep or draws out of a deep sleep.

Studies show that those suffering from this condition stop breathing anywhere from two to three seconds to several minutes. This breathing cessation can occurs more than 30 times in one hour. Once a person begins to breathe again, he or she will snort or make a loud choking sound. This often awakens a partner, which causes her or him to have a bad night’s sleep as well.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of this condition, and the obstruction is your airway collapsing or being blocked. This is the cause behind the short or no breath, and if you are overweight, you stand a better chance of obstructive sleep apnea than someone who is fit. If your brain fails to send to the correct breathing signals to your lungs, you suffer from central sleep apnea.

Associated Health Risks

Sleep apnea comes with many associated health risks. Those suffering from the condition have a greater chance of arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and stroke. Lack of sleep is also a primary cause of road and work-related accidents. When you are drowsy, you are not as aware of your surroundings and this compromises your ability to react.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

In order to diagnose and treat this condition, you must visit a center specializing in sleep aids in Birmingham. You will spend the night in the center and medical professionals will monitor your sleep. This will help them determine whether you have sleep apnea or another sleeping disorder. If you do have sleep apnea, they’ll be able to isolate whether it is obstructive or central apnea.

If you are diagnosed with this disorder, you will undergo extensive treatment, including lifestyle and sleep modification. If you are overweight, you will need to lose the excess pounds and engage in a healthier lifestyle. You may also be prescribed medication and a CPAP device, which is a mask you wear at night attached to a breathing machine.

If you are having trouble sleeping, or if your spouse has mentioned you stop breathing at night, contact sleeping experts to schedule an appointment for a physical examination and sleep observation. Don’t suffer from another sleepless night. Get sleeps aids in Birmingham today.

Kevin Smith is a writer and an avid reader. He writes about business, marketing, health, pets, or relationships etc.