Sleep expert warns of common symptom that could hint at dangerous disorder
A sleep expert has warned of the one common symptom that could hint at a potentially dangerous disorder.
At night, other than the obvious restlessness that may occasionally occur, it can be hard to spot anything wrong with your sleep. But Dr Joachim Behar, a sleep scientist, has warned that millions or Americans are ignoring this one symptom that could suggest a potentially dangerous disorder. And it is more common than you think.
"Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an extremely common condition, impacting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Yet, millions suffer in silence because common symptoms of OSA may be overlooked or difficult to detect because they occur during sleep," Dr Behar told ThePost.
OSA is a condition that occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airways while you are sleeping. This means your lungs don't get enough air and not enough oxygen gets to your blood.
As a result, your brain senses that you cannot breathe and briefly wakes you so that you can reopen your airway. This awakening happens so quickly you usually don't remember it but it can happen five to 30 times or more an hour, all night. This may leave you feeling exhausted after a restless night sleep.
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Dr Behar added: "when a patient ignores the problem or is misdiagnosed, OSA becomes a risk factor for very serious conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and heart disease." Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women of most racial and ethnic groups in the US.
What are the symptoms?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Snoring
- Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
- Waking during the night and gasping or choking.
- Awakening in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat.
- Morning headaches.
- Trouble focusing during the day.
- Mood changes, such as depression or being easily upset.
- High blood pressure.
- Decreased interest in sex.
The most common symptom on that list that is often dismissed is snoring. While snoring doesn't necessarily indicate something as serious as OSA it is important to consider it if you are also experiencing some of the other symptoms listed above.
There are a number of factors that may increase your risk of CSA, these include:
- Excess weight
- A thick neck circumference
- A narrowed airway
- Being male
- Being older
- Family history
- Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers
- Smoking
- Nasal congestion
- Certain medical conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart failure
When should you see a doctor?
According to the Mayo Clinic, you should consult a health care professional if you have, or if your partner observes, the following:
- Snoring loud enough to disturb your sleep or the sleep of others.
- Waking up gasping or choking.
- Pausing in your breathing during sleep.
- Having excessive daytime drowsiness. This may cause you to fall asleep while working, watching television or even driving a vehicle.
Dr Behar said: “The good news is that some simple lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, sleeping on your side, and avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills can help reduce symptoms of OSA."
Some people with a more severe case of OSA may be prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This is considered the most effective treatment. Dr Behar warned that sleep is a "growing public health concern" and too many people are not getting enough sleep each night.
Another form of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea. This occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
CSA shares many of the same symptoms as OSA, but they have different risk factors. You are more at risk of CSA if you are older, male, have a heart disorder, have suffered a stroke or use narcotic pain medications.
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