Do I Have Sleep Apnea? 4 Warning Signs to Watch Out For

You don’t want to ignore sleep apnea until it leads to a heart attack or starts badly affecting the quality of your life. Thus, it’s important to be able to identify the disorder as quickly as possible. The most obvious sign of sleep apnea is usually loud, chronic snoring – but what if you don’t have a partner that can tell you about the noise you’re making? Here are 4 symptoms that could warn you about your sleep-disordered breathing.

1. Constant Exhaustion During the Day

If you set aside 7 to 9 hours every night for sleep, you should normally wake up feeling refreshed. However, people with sleep apnea may find that even after what appeared to be a full night’s rest, they still feel drowsy and exhausted throughout the day. This is because during sleep apnea, your breathing frequently stops, and your brain forces you to wake up for air. These frequent awakenings interrupt the sleep cycle, stopping you from reaching the restorative stages of slumber. As a result, you’ll constantly be tired to the point where you’re at a higher risk for accidents on the road or at work.

2. Waking Up Feeling Like You’re Choking

Most of the time, you won’t even realize that sleep apnea is waking you up. These awakenings are usually very short, so you won’t remember them afterwards. However, every once in a while, you will experience a choking sensation as you wake up, and you’ll end up gasping for air. Needless to say, if such an event happens, you should be tested for sleep apnea right away.

3. Frequent Morning Headaches or a Sore Throat

Do you constantly wake up with pain in your head? There’s a very good chance that it’s related to sleep apnea. In fact, those who suffer from headaches on a regular basis have a 2 to 8 times greater risk of developing a sleep disorder. For that matter, sleep apnea often dries out your throat, leaving it dry and scratchy in the morning. Waking up with these symptoms every once in a while may not be cause for alarm, but you should definitely seek professional treatment if they happen almost every day.

4. Insomnia

There are many different reasons you might be suffering from insomnia, including asthma, sinus allergies, chronic pain, and certain medications. However, there’s also a chance that sleep apnea is making it difficult for you to fall asleep at all. It’s always better to narrow down the underlying cause of insomnia as soon as you can.

Remember that sleep apnea can happen to anyone, but it’s generally more frequent in men, people who suffer from obesity, or people with large neck circumferences and/or small lower jaws. If you fall into any of those categories and notice the above symptoms, get in touch with a sleep dentist right away to ask about having a sleep test performed. Once a diagnosis is made, you can start seeking treatment that will help you enjoy uninterrupted rest again.

About Dolfield Dental

At Dolfield Dental in Owings Mills, Dr. Milner and Dr. Horner make it a point to stay up to date with the latest dental services and technologies. They always take the time to try and exceed your expectations, and they’ll work closely with you to make sure you completely understand your treatment options. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, you can get in touch with them through their website or call (410) 902-4110.