Sleep apnea may be a serious disorder that happens when an individual's breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes many times during the night.
If it’s not treated, apnea can cause a variety of health problems, including hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart), coronary failure, diabetes, and heart attacks. Untreated sleep apnea can also be responsible for job impairment, work-related accidents, and motor vehicle crashes, as well as underachievement in school in children and adolescents.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – This is the common form that occurs with the relaxation of throat muscles.
Central Sleep Apnea - In central apnea, the airway isn't blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe thanks to instability within the respiratory center. Central apnea is related to the function of the central nervous system.
Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome: This syndrome occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
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Symptoms of sleep apnea
- Snoring, Headaches and Night sweats,
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue.
- Restlessness during sleep, frequent nighttime awakenings.
- Sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking.
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening.
- Cognitive impairment, like trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, or irritability.
- Mood disturbances (depression or anxiety).
- Frequent nighttime urination.
- Sexual dysfunction
