Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans. It's characterized by brief interruptions in breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea usually aren't aware of their interrupted breathing episodes. This means that someone with sleep apnea may not even realize they have a problem. Sleep apnea has been linked to a number of serious health problems. That's why it's so important to diagnose and treat it as soon as possible.

Here are some of its symptoms:

Snoring

For some people, snoring may be a manifestation of an underlying condition known as sleep apnea. This is a sleep disorder in which breathing stops for short periods of time throughout the night. While you may occasionally snore in your sleep, repeated episodes of this can mean that your body and brain are not receiving enough oxygen. As a result, you may experience extreme fatigue during the day and an increased risk of heart disease.

Fatigue

While many people report fatigue after a poor night's sleep, others wake up feeling refreshed. If you wake up feeling tired even after sleeping for eight hours or more, it's possible that you have sleep apnea. Patients should share these symptoms with their dentist to determine if further testing is necessary.

Waking Up Uneasy

Waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air is not normal and could be a sign of sleep apnea. This is a serious condition that requires treatment as soon as possible. Waking up feeling unrested or tired in the morning is another symptom that may be important to pay attention to. If you wake up feeling like you just haven't slept at all, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. These symptoms can be a sign that your body isn't able to breathe properly throughout the night. This means that your brain isn't getting enough oxygen. As a result, you may feel exhausted when you wake up in the mornings. 

Morning Headaches

If you're constantly waking up with a headache, it may be a sign of sleep apnea. While you do tend to wake up with a start when you have a severe apnea incident, you're also likely to experience a morning headache as a result.

When you get woken up suddenly by apnea episodes, your blood vessels constrict, and your blood pressure rises. These effects can last for a few minutes after waking you, which can result in morning headaches.

Trouble Concentrating

Many people who struggle with sleep apnea also experience trouble concentrating during the day. Not being able to focus can be scary because it can lead to accidents and mistakes over extended periods of time. If your job requires a lot of concentration, or you just like to learn new things as quickly as possible, sleep-disordered breathing can make it difficult to complete tasks to the best of your ability. If you can't concentrate, you may find yourself feeling unmotivated even when you try to accomplish your goals for the day.

Irritability

Patients may lose their temper or feel irritable due to snoring or being tired during the day. They may even lash out at their loved ones, causing fights and arguments in the home. If patients wake up feeling exhausted after a night's sleep, they may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea and should be diagnosed by a sleep specialist.

The best way to combat the effects of sleep apnea is to get a treatment plan in place. With continuous positive airway pressure therapy or CPAP, you can sleep through the night without experiencing any noticeable side effects like headaches.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with us, visit our office, Midtown Dental, at 750 George Washington Way, Richland, WA, Suite 1 99352. You can also reach us at (509) 946-1678.