What Are the Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea affects at least 100 million people around the globe. The condition refers to the narrowing or obstruction of your airway during sleep. These temporary periods where you stop breathing can have multiple harmful effects on you and those around you.
Sleep apnea mostly affects middle-aged men with high BMIs, but it can present in women, especially those who are pregnant or menopausal, children and animals too.
If you’ve ever asked the question ‘do I have sleep apnea?’, look out for the following warning signs of this common but risky sleep disorder.
Snoring
Poked or prodded by your bed partner because your snoring is disturbing the peace? Loud or frequent snoring could point to sleep apnea. If you also snort, gasp or go eerily silent in between bouts of snoring, it’s a clear red flag.
Research looking into how to cure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (O.S.A.) has found that mouth appliances are one of the most effective solutions.
Daytime Sleepiness
Constant yawning and struggling to stay awake during the day indicate something is wrong. You’re either consciously suffering from insomnia or getting restless sleep.
Feeling drowsy when you’re at work can be inconvenient, but if you’re falling asleep behind the wheel or while doing a safety-sensitive job, it’s downright dangerous. And plying yourself with caffeine is not a healthy, sustainable fix.
Irritability
If your friends and family have noticed that you’re quick to anger and aren’t quite your usual self, sleep deprivation could be to blame. Without a restful night of sleep, you’re not going to be in the best mood the next day. And after a while, you could even develop anxiety or depression.
Tiredness and Difficulty Focusing
You might be wondering why you’re so exhausted every day. Inexplicable fatigue is a natural consequence of poor sleep, as is an inability to focus on various tasks. You may even have issues with your memory.
Feeling Unwell
Sleep apnea can lead to headaches, sore throat, high blood pressure, and a compromised immune system among other physical health problems.
Get Help at Strong Denture and Snoring
We hope this post has given you some insight into how to detect sleep apnea. You can also take our questionnaire or schedule a no-obligation consultation at one of our eight Ontario clinics to find out your risk status.
Mouth guards help to open your airways. They’re easier to transport than CPAP machines, have fewer side effects and are a more affordable approach to sleep apnea treatment. Our premium oral sleeping appliances are customized to each individual and are safe, comfortable and long-lasting.