The Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful time of year. A time to contemplate what we are thankful and appreciative for and to give thanks for all that we have. Health and quality of life are usually high on our grateful meter but what if we do not realize we a have serious yet common health problem. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is directly linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic health. What are signs of sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway muscles relax causing an obstruction of the airway. Common signs could be snoring, unexplained fatigue, mood swings, gasping for air through the night, recurring headaches when waking up, high blood pressure, or if anyone has observed you have stopped breathing through the night.
A less common form of sleep apnea is Central sleep apnea which occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the muscles to make you start breathing.
If you feel you might have sleep apnea, consult with your doctor. A sleep apnea test can be ordered which monitors your breathing and oxygen levels while you sleep.
Sleep well and breath well this Holiday season!
