Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common and treatable disorder. It negatively impacts quality of life and is associated with serious adverse health outcomes if left untreated.
Symptoms:
If you have any of the following you may be at risk of having Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
• Loud snoring
• Awakening with gasping or choking
• Non-refreshing sleep
• Morning headache and/or dry mouth
• Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Poor concentration and reduced memory
• Irritability
• Decreased libido and/or impotence
Without treatment, Obstructive Sleep Apnea has been shown to contribute to:
• Fatigue and daytime sleepiness
• High blood pressure
• Heart attacks
• Stroke
• Heartburn at night
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Depression
• Erectile dysfunction
Who gets Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
OSA is more prevalent in middle aged or older men and woman. It is more common in men than women before menopause, after which both are affected equally. It typically occurs in overweight individuals, however, there are other physical features such as having large tonsils, a receded and/or small jaw, large neck size, and/or nasal obstruction that can contribute to OSA in normal weight individuals.
