Each night, thousands of sleep apnea sufferers across the country do not get a decent night’s rest. Sleep apnea causes people to wake up throughout the night and feel groggy during the day. Sleep Apnea in Allentown PA can be caused by a variety of issues and usually requires professional medical help to diagnose and eliminate.
What are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?
In most cases, sleep apnea is hard to detect without a family member or partner’s help. There are few signs and symptoms other than tiredness and problems with sleeping through the night. Sleep apnea causes sufferers to stop breathing or have very shallow breaths for a short period of time while they are sleeping. This often causes those who suffer from it to wake up repeatedly during the night, whether consciously or not, and it also frequently occurs with loud snoring. Those who suffer from sleep apnea are often overwhelming tired during the daytime, but diagnosis requires the help of another household member or a sleep study in addition to a doctor’s assessment.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
There are several different risk factors that can make developing sleep apnea more likely, but some cases of the issue occur without any known cause. Generally speaking, those who are overweight will struggle with sleep apnea more than those who are average weight. Also, those with sinus issues or enlarged tonsils, especially if they are children, may suffer from sleep apnea as well. Neurological issues and certain medications can also cause or exacerbate this condition.
What are Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea?
There are several options for treating sleep apnea at, depending on the reason for the condition and how severe it is. In some cases, sleep apnea can be eliminated by weight loss or a medication change. More often, however, outside intervention is needed. Through the use of a specially-fitted mouthpiece to properly align the jaw or a CPAP machine that lightly blows air into the throat throughout the night, sufferers can find relief from their sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can cause serious issues in its sufferers’ lives, but it doesn’t have to. Medical professionals can help treat sleep apnea and get patients back on the road to restful sleep. With the use of mouthpieces or CPAP machines, Sleep Apnea in Allentown PA can be a thing of the past.
