You can snore loudly and not have sleep apnea, and you may even have sleep apnea without much snoring. People with sleep apnea might also suffer from unexplained fatigue and mood swings, because their breathing interruptions continually wake them and prevent them from settling into a deep, nourishing sleep. The consequences can be significant, Jun says. Other sufferers might wake up with a dry mouth, since sleep apnea tends to make you breathe with an open mouth, drying out your saliva.
Some awaken with a headache, which may be caused by low oxygen or high carbon dioxide levels during sleep. There are many studies showing that losing weight can either completely cure you of sleep apnea or at least make it less severe," Jun says.
Several studies have shown an association between sleep apnea and problems like type 2 diabetes , strokes , heart attacks and even a shortened lifespan, says Jun. Why this connection?
For one thing, obesity is common in sleep apnea patients, and obesity greatly increases risks of diabetes, stroke and heart attack, he says. Furthermore, evidence suggests an independent link between sleep apnea and diabetes. For people who are overweight or obese, weight loss is key for treating or avoiding sleep apnea.
People who accumulate fat in the neck, tongue and upper belly are especially vulnerable to getting sleep apnea. This weight reduces the diameter of the throat and pushes against the lungs, contributing to airway collapse during sleep. Women in particular should be careful as they age. While premenopausal women tend to put on weight in the hips and in the lower body instead of the belly, this shifts with time.
While there have been some high-profile deaths linked to sleep apnea—such as with Judge Antonin Scalia —Jun says that the true risk is from damage done over time. Obstructive sleep apnea can range from mild to severe, based on a measurement system called the apnea-hypopnea index AHI.
It can be hard to tell if you have sleep apnoea. It may help to ask someone to stay with you while you sleep so they can check for the symptoms.
If someone else has seen you have the symptoms, it can help to bring them with you. If a GP thinks you might have sleep apnoea, they may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests. At the clinic, you may be given devices that check things like your breathing and heartbeat while you sleep. You'll be asked to wear these overnight so doctors can check for signs of sleep apnoea. You can usually do this at home, but sometimes you may need to stay in the clinic overnight.
The test can show if you have sleep apnoea and how severe it is. This is based on how often your breathing stops while you sleep AHI score.
But many people need to use a device called a CPAP machine. You'll be given this for free on the NHS if you need it. But, as with most other health conditions, there are varying degrees of severity when it comes to sleep apnea. So, with that in mind, what is generally considered to be severe sleep apnea, and what risks does severe apnea present to your health in general? Why is it important to know if your OSA is considered severe apnea? As you can probably guess, severe sleep apnea presents greater risks to your health.
Common comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease are connected to severe apnea.
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