Table of Contents
Can you develop sleep apnea out of nowhere?
Anyone can develop obstructive sleep apnea. However, certain factors put you at increased risk, including: Excess weight. Most but not all people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight.
How do you know if you’re developing sleep apnea?
Symptoms
- Loud snoring.
- Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person.
- Gasping for air during sleep.
- Awakening with a dry mouth.
- Morning headache.
- Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Difficulty paying attention while awake.
Can you develop sleep apnea at any age?
Sleep apnea can occur at any age, even in infants. It may be a developmental problem or the result of another medical condition. More common is pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. In children, sleep apnea is often caused by large tonsils and adenoids that block the airway during sleep.
What causes sudden onset sleep apnea?
In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with the soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.
Can I test myself for sleep apnea?
At-home sleep apnea testing is an easy, cost-effective way to figure out whether you’re having trouble breathing, says Susheel P. Patil, MD, PhD, clinical director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Medicine Program.
Can a skinny person get sleep apnea?
One very common question that revolves around Sleep Apnea is, “Can Skinny People Have Sleep Apnea?” Sleep apnea is often associated with individuals who are overweight. Yet, obesity is not the sole cause of sleep disorders. A slender, healthy person can still suffer from sleep apnea.
Can you suffocate in your sleep from sleep apnea?
Although a person with sleep apnea does not necessarily die while sleeping, the risk of death increases significantly if sleep apnea is untreated. The reason people with sleep apnea do not usually die in their sleep is that when the brain senses that it doesn’t have enough oxygen, it alerts the body to wake up.
How common is obstructive sleep apnea in the US?
Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 2-9\% of adults 2 in the United States, but many cases are believed to go undiagnosed 3, which fits with studies that have found considerably higher rates of OSA. Precise prevalence is hard to determine because studies have used different criteria for diagnosing the condition.
Should I talk to my doctor about my sleep apnea symptoms?
If you think you might have sleep apnea, see your doctor. Treatment can ease your symptoms and might help prevent heart problems and other complications. The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have.
What are the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea?
All three types of sleep apnea share certain common symptoms: 1 Disrupted breathing in which a person’s respiration can become labored or even stop for up to a minute at a time 2 Excessive daytime sleepiness 3 Morning headaches 4 Irritability 5 Limited attention span or difficulty thinking clearly
When is the best time to start treatment for sleep apnea?
Sometimes, treatment can be started during the first night in the sleep center. The treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP). CPAP is a mask that fits over the nose and/or mouth, and gently blows air into the airway to help keep it open during sleep.