Who Suffers From Sleep Apnea And What Are Its Symptoms?
Sleep apnea affects people of all ages, including children, although it is more commonly seen in men over the age of 40. It is also more commonly seen in people who are overweight.
In very young children sleep apnea has been linked with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), while in older children it is often associated with being overweight, or with having unusually large tonsils or adenoids. In the case of children, snoring should be taken as a warning sign of the possible presence of sleep apnea as, although snoring is common in the adult population, it is not something that is normally seen in children.
Sleep apnea is also commonly seen in people with unusually large tongues, excessive tissue around the pharynx (the soft area at the top of the throat where the passages from the nose and mouth connect with the throat) and particularly small airways.
There is also evidence to suggest that there may be a genetic basis for some instances of sleep apnea and that it is possible to inherit the condition.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
The most commonly recognized sleep apnea symptoms are:
- Loud snoring. Many cases of sleep apnea result from a blockage to the airway caused, at least in part, by excessive tissue at the back of the throat. When your brain awakens you sufficiently to start breathing again you take in a large breath initially and this causes this excess tissue to vibrate, resulting in loud snoring.
- Excessive daytime tiredness. Because your brain wakes you constantly throughout the night to breathe, you are enjoying only very light, fragmented and poor quality sleep, leaving you still tired at the end of your night's sleep. It should be noted that, although the brain wakes you many times during the night, it only raises your level of consciousness sufficiently for your to breathe. As a result, you are often not aware of this and will wake in the morning believing that you have slept right through the night.
In addition to these main symptoms sleep apnea, if left
untreated, can lead to:
- Headaches (particularly in the morning).
- High blood pressure (and other cardiovascular problems).
- Weight gain.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
- Learning and memory difficulties.
- Sexual dysfunction and impotency.
What is sleep apnea and what causes it?
What are the different types of sleep apnea?
What is the treatment for sleep apnea?
Additional reading:
The information contained here should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice.
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