Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder because breathing stops and starts during sleep. There are 2 primary types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes your body to decrease or stop the effort of breathing intermittently during sleep, caused by a problem in the brain or heart. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder caused by the throat muscles sporadically relaxing, causing a blockage in the airway—preventing air from getting to the lungs—during sleep. Anyone can develop sleep apnea, but it most commonly appears in middle-aged and older adults and people who are overweight.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include: loud snoring, snoring interrupted by pauses in breathing and then gasping, falling asleep at inappropriate times, trouble with concentration or memory, irritability, depression, loss of interest in sex, or impotence, headaches, dry mouth, sore throat or nausea, frequent nighttime urination or even bedwetting.

The risks of sleep apnea include: daytime sleepiness that affects work and social encounters, depression, increased risk for automobile accidents, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, stroke, Type 2 Diabetes

Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea can reduce and potentially reverse the risks of the sleep disorder. We recommend that anyone suffering from trouble with sleep talk to their doctor, as sleep disorders are readily treatable. At Alpha Sleep Lab, we offer the latest treatment options available for sleep apnea, and we will help you understand and make an informed decision about getting better sleep and improving your lifestyle. Schedule an appointment today.