Most people experience sleep problems at some point in their lives. From insomnia to snoring, getting a decent amount of restful sleep can be difficult in today’s ‘always on’ society. As such, the line between everyday sleep issues and sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can be difficult to spot. Indeed, sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed as sufferers brush off their symptoms as simple tiredness or burnout. If you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, the following signs should prompt you to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible:
1. Chronic snoring
Snoring is amongst the most commonly cited symptoms associated with sleep apnea. This is because snoring is caused by the obstruction of a person’s airways, a problem which lies at the root of the disorder. If your partner is losing sleep because of your frequent loud snoring, or if you often wake yourself up with your own snoring, you may well have sleep apnea.
2. You’re always tired
If you spend over seven hours in bed every night and still feel chronically tired, you could be suffering from sleep apnea. Indeed, the condition can seriously impact the quality of your sleep by waking you up at regular intervals. The excessive sleepiness caused by sleep apnea can be very dangerous, especially if you drive or operate heavy machinery, so make sure to book an appointment with your physician as soon as possible.
3. Your blood pressure is high
Hypertension is strongly linked to sleep apnea. This is because the depleted oxygen levels caused by the disorder can lead to a spike in blood pressure. Only treatment options such as a CPAP machine will be able to address this dangerous issue, so do not hesitate to book in for a medical examination.
4. You are overweight
Obstructive sleep apnea is strongly linked to being overweight or obese as it is often the result of excess fatty tissues that have accumulated in the throat and neck. If you’re a man with a neck circumference of over 17 inches or a woman with a neck circumference over than 16 inches, it is a good idea to get yourself checked out.