Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, and most people have no idea that they have it. All they know is that they wake up without feeling refreshed and their health is steadily declining. This is a problem that can lead to other more serious problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. Here are the clues you need to pay attention to so that you can protect yourself.
Risk Factor: Being Overweight
A big risk factor is being overweight. Many people who have a high body fat percentage are at risk for sleep apnea. Losing weight can reduce this risk, but it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the process. Weight loss attempts should not be drastic or involve crash dieting.
Ideally, weight should come off gradually through a mix of reduced calorie intake and an increase in exercise.
Risk Factor: You Snore
If you snore, this is a huge red flag that you may have sleep apnea. It’s not always obvious though, and many doctors won’t be able to diagnose this because it’ll happen while you sleep. Your partner is probably going to be the first person to notice this. If you live alone, or your partner doesn’t notice, but you suspect you snore at night, you can use a handy app called “Snore Lab” to confirm.
Snore Lab will monitor your sleep, and record it, measuring any snoring you do during the night. Then, you can take appropriate measures to correct the problem.
Risk Factor: You’re Sleepy During Waking Hours
If you find yourself sleepy when you first wake up, or if you run out of energy quickly during the day, this could be another sign that you suffer from sleep apnea. This is because you’re waking up in the middle of the night, even if you aren’t waking up fully, or you’re gasping for air and aren’t able to get a full night’s rest.
Risk Factor: You Wake Up In The Middle Of The Night, Out Of Breath
If you wake up in the middle of the night, gasping for air or are out of breath, this is pretty definitive. It’s time to go see the doctor, because in all likelihood you have sleep apnea.
Solution: Testing Your Blood Glucose
Products, like a glucose meter from a reputable company like LifeScan Canada Ltd., can help you keep tabs on your blood sugar. Why would you want to do this? Well, if you present with several of the risk factors, including being overweight, there’s a high risk of you developing diabetes.
You don’t want to wait until you have the condition to start monitoring, either. If you notice your blood sugar swinging or becoming erratic, it’s time for dietary changes and possible intervention from your doctor.
Solution: Sleep With Your Mouth Closed
Getting a CPAP machine can also help. CPAP, or Constant Positive Air Pressure Machine, will help push air into your airways, without you having to breathe through your mouth. It will help reduce sleep apnea, because the positive air pressure forces air into your lungs so you won’t stop breathing.
Solution: Go See Your Doctor
At the end of the day, you will need confirmation from your doctor as to whether you’re likely to have sleep apnea. While there’s no definitive test, a doctor can best evaluate you based on symptoms, recommend a sleep study, and also provide you with possible treatment options so that you can prevent long-term damage or complications from the condition.
Sheri Max is a long time sleep apnea sufferer and mom of two young children. A passionate writer, she likes to share her experiences in order to help others in similar situations. Look for her informative articles mainly on health, medical and family websites and blogs.