Your quality of sleep and your partner’s health can be significantly affected by sleep apnea, which is a serious medical condition. If your partner’s loud snoring keeps you up at night, it might be an indication of sleep apnea. However, not everybody who snores is dealing with sleep apnea and not everyone with sleep apnea snores. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems, so if your sleep is being interrupted by your partner’s snoring, it’s important to get a professional diagnosis.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Millions of Americans experience the common sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). When somebody with sleep apnea tries to sleep, their breathing is disrupted again and again, perhaps even hundreds of times. These disruptions are typically caused by a complete or partial blockage of the airway, forcing the diaphragm and chest muscles to work harder to reopen the airway. A body jerk or a loud gasp frequently happens when breathing starts back up.
Chronic OSA hinders your partner from achieving restful sleep, reduces oxygen flow to vital organs, and can cause heart rhythm disturbances. While OSA is more common in individuals who are overweight and over 50, even kids can develop this condition.
Recognizing the symptoms of sleep apnea
Often, the individual with OSA is not aware of their condition, but their partner can see the signs. Common indications of sleep apnea include:
- Sudden awakenings with choking or gasping for air
- Daytime exhaustion and excessive drowsiness
- Issues with concentration
- Snoring loudly
- Dizziness in the morning
- Morning dry mouth and headaches
- Having to get out of bed frequently to urinate
One telling indication is a period of silence following deep snoring, then a sudden choking or gasping sound. This routine can leave both partners feeling unrested and fatigued throughout the day.
What are the health impacts of OSA?
Health and well-being can be extremely impacted by sleep apnea. Job performance can be impacted by poor concentration and car accidents can be the consequence of daytime drowsiness. More significantly, OSA increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. OSA has also been related to vascular conditions like heart attacks, stroke, and atrial fibrillation because of oxygen deprivation.
OSA makes weight loss more challenging and being overweight is a considerable OSA risk factor. Memory problems, known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and depression are further concerns related to neglected sleep apnea.
It’s dangerous to leave sleep apnea undiagnosed and untreated. Numerous celebrities have died as a result of complications of sleep apnea, notably, James Gandolfini, Carie Fisher, Jerry Garcia, and Reggie White.
Don’t dismiss symptoms of sleep apnea
It’s crucial that you have a conversation with your partner if you are observing symptoms of sleep apnea. For the sake of both, their health, and your well-being, consider seeking professional help. Most of the physical and emotional issues related to OSA can be alleviated by successful treatment after being diagnosed with a comprehensive sleep study and evaluation.