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Symptons of sleep apnea
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Getting enough sleep has a direct effect on health and should not be viewed as a luxury, but a major necessity for maintaining for good health. While there are numerous reasons why people experience interruptions in their sleep patterns, one of the most serious is a medical condition known as sleep apnea, characterized by a minimum of ten second lapses (or more) between breaths repeated several times during the night that can ultimately lead to such dire conditions as heart disease and stroke, as well as an increased resistance to insulin and diabetes. In fact, people who suffer from sleep apnea are 2-3 times more likely to suffer a stroke than those without it. It is also important to realize that sleep apnea tends to affect men far more than women.
Symptons of sleep apnea be be evidenced by excessive snoring and gasping for air, as well as increased feelings of sleepiness during the day. According to The Center for Sleep Medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York, if someone answers yes to at least five of the following questions they may be a victim of sleep apnea.
1 Do you ever stop breathing during the night for short periods of time?
2 Are you sleepy during the day?
3 Do you suffer from insomnia or wake up frequently during the night?
4 Do you fall asleep during school or at work?
5 Are you confused when you wake up?
6 Do experience a heaviness in your chest when you wake?
7 Do you wake up with headaches?
8 Do you have trouble concentrating
9 Do you ever forget about things you have already done?
10 Do you frequently drop things?
11 Are you a loud snorer?
12 Are you a sleepwalker?
13 Are you a bedwetter?
14 Do you ever feel "paralyzed" just before falling asleep?
15 Do you ever suffer from heartburn during the night?
16 Are you a restless sleeper
17 Have you gained more than ten pounds in a year
18 Have you been experiencing negative personality changes?
19 Are you having impotence issues?
If you do experience some of the milder symptons, however, it is important to realize that sometimes difficulty breathing at night may simply be the cause of a minor respiratory ailment, or may be easily remedied by sleeping on your side and raising your head a bit, rather than lying flat. However, if this does not help see your doctor and find out how you can take part in a sleep study at your local hospital where they can recommend the best treatment for you. Again, sleep apnea is not the only disorder that can cause any of the above problems.
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