Sleep apnea is a prevalent issue for many people, and it doesn’t just impact how often you wake up in the middle of the night or how loudly you snore. This condition can result in fatigue that can negatively affect you throughout your day, which can be serious if left unaddressed. Keep reading to learn how this sleeping disorder can increase how tired you feel and what you can do to remedy your situation.
How Does Sleep Apnea Occur?
Sleep apnea involves the airway closing and interrupting a person’s breathing during rest. This can happen due to two main reasons:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): As the most common form of this disorder, the throat muscles relax and end up blocking the flow of air to the lungs.
- Central sleep apnea (CSA): This is when the brain won’t send the correct signals to the muscles controlling a person’s breathing.
What Does Sleep Apnea Fatigue Feel Like?
There is a wide range of symptoms that arise from sleep apnea, such as excessive snoring, morning headaches, and gasping for air during rest. However, since this disorder keeps you from sleeping properly, fatigue ends up becoming one of the more significant issues in the long run. Without enough rest, you might experience daytime drowsiness, which can be potentially dangerous when performing daily activities, such as driving. Those with sleep apnea often have a higher risk of workplace or motor vehicle accidents due to being too tired and unable to be alert or concentrated.
How Can You Treat Sleep Apnea?
With sleep apnea fatigue being quite problematic, those struggling with this issue will need to implement ways to boost their energy levels. Some simple measures to take at home include sleeping on your side, staying hydrated, consuming an energy-boosting diet, exercising, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and losing excess weight. To treat sleep apnea itself, you might consider undergoing oral appliance therapy, or even combined therapy if you already use a CPAP machine—both of which help to open your airway for proper breathing.
Don’t let this sleeping disorder keep you from getting good rest! Keep these tips in mind and consider consulting a sleep expert so that you can get the proper treatment to address the root of the issue.
About the Author
Dr. David J. Drummond graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago and has been part of the dental world for well over four decades. As a Diplomate in the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, he can help treat those struggling with sleep apnea via oral appliance therapy or combined therapy so that they can get the quality rest they deserve. If you wish to know more about this condition or how you can address your situation, don’t hesitate to check out our website or call our office at 580-355-0344.