Are constant fatigue, and a craving for the energy that rest provides, prevalent characteristics of your daily life? It just might not be the fault of copious amounts of time, spent working, multi-tasking, or doomscrolling online.
You may not be getting the deep, restful, and restorative sleep, that lying prone, with closed eyes, normally affords the mind and body, nightly. You may have a form of sleep apnea. It a serious, chronic sleep disorder that affects over 30 million Americans, and billions of others, globally.
Sleeping Disorder Effects Are Far Reaching
Sleep apnea is more pervasive, and yes, more commonly identified, due to the exponentially rising numbers of exhausted people, seeking medical assistance and a diagnosis.
Feeling exhausted, is the new form or normal, in society. Global interconnection, and information-work-overload, saturates reality. A lifestyle commitment, raising a family, and helping others, leaves little time for self-care, or giving attention to subtle, negative, physical changes that are permeating, and interrupting your good life.
Sleeping Yes, Breathing, Not So Much
Right now, the focus on wellness is extremely intense, and you want answers, immediately, when you feel unwell. Sleep apnea is very indistinctive. Research has noted that 80% of sufferers have not until recently, been diagnosed. The symptoms do not showcase the severity of the illness.
Fatigue, a lack of focus, irritability, emotional disconnection, and mood swings, are the common traits of an over-committed modern lifestyle. “No Biggie”, right? Wrong. Getting to sleep may not be problematic. Breathing in a normal pattern, with constant air flow inhaled, consistently, is not what is happening with sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea – Snore or No Snore, is Lethal
What many untreated sufferers of chronic sleep apnea don’t recognize, is that breathing is obstructed, while they sleep. Breath stops. Oxygen is depleted from the brain, lungs, blood cells, and organs, for up to 30-40 seconds, multiple times, an hour. The body is forced to produce cortisol to wake the sleeper, automatically, opening airways, temporarily.
The strain on the heart, and fluid build up in the lungs, can cause pneumonia, or worse, sudden cardiac arrest, and death. Those who suffer sleep apnea are not awakened enough, to know that they stopped breathing, repeatedly, and have not rested. The human body does broadcast a call for help, through snoring, and constant, severe, fatigue. Not everyone who has sleep apnea, snores. This disorder is a silent threat to your survival.
Dleep Apnea – What is Good to Know
Sleep apnea is classified into 3 main types:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – (OAS) At rest, throat muscles, and the tongue relax, and close off the airway. Breathing is obstructed, and stops for multiple seconds, at numerous intervals, for hours.
Central Sleep Apnea – (CSA) the brain fails to send signals to the muscles which control natural breathing.
Complex Sleep Apnea – the combination of OAS and CSA, known as “treatment emergent”. Both types are present in your physical condition.
Until recently, 80% of all sleep apnea sufferers were unaware of their condition. Research, classification, and now, treatment, are the direct result of the exponential occurrence, and diagnosis, of this serious breathing disorder. To date, breathing specialists recommend that you purchase the best CPAP machine available, and a CPAP mask, to patients. The machine provides continuous positive airway pressure, for consistent oxygen importation, and a good night’s sleep.
Signs and Symptoms – A Wake Up Call
Your humanness requires that rest occurs, to restore the body, and the brain, to a higher level of functionality. Knowing the signs and symptoms, of the presence, of this silently subtle disorder, spotlights its invasive and serious health threats, and allows you to get pro-active, diagnosed and impowered to be well again. The physical symptoms include:
- Constant struggles to be alert and focused
- Energy Drops at Midday
- Night Sweats that soak pajamas and sheets
- Morning Headache Pain, that feels like “brain squeeze”
- Dry Mouth and Sore Throat, regularly
- Nasal Congestion and dryness of the nasal passages
- Flushed Complexion due to blood pressure elevation
- Inability to stay awake during driving, or any activity which requires concentration, and energy
- Intermittent gasping and choking sounds, when at rest, and snoring, (or not)
- Forgetfulness and other memory issues
- Impaired critical thinking
- Brain Fog
- All Day Sleepiness
What can be noted from this list is, that these symptoms could denote any number of illnesses, with the exception of snoring. Yet not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. It is a conundrum, which must be recognized as very real threat to your life.
Sleep Apnea Attacks the Body and Brain – Know this Health Threat
Sleep Apnea is subtle at the onset, but a serious threat, in real-time. Its effects send fatty enzymes to the liver, and spleen, impeding functionality. It overworks the heart by generating the creation of the cortisol hormone. This hormone stimulates the circulatory system to overwork, pushing blood pressure to soaring heights. Strokes and heart attacks are a few breaths away, occurring suddenly. Cardiac arrest is often attributed to sleep apnea.
Oxygen deprivation scars the lungs, and the brain. CPAP and other treatments are restorative if you do the self-care to identify the symptom signposts and get diagnosed and treated. Now you know.
