DUBOIS — Sleep is as essential to your health and well-being as a balanced diet and regular exercise. It boosts cognition, lifts mood and promotes wellness. Lack of consistent and quality sleep increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, depression and diabetes, which can lead to serious injury, irritability, poor job performance, increased health care costs and poor quality of life. There is a nature.
An estimated 50 to 70 million people in the United States suffer from sleep disorders, with sleep apnea being one of the most common. Sleep apnea affects 1 in 5 of her American adults, and unlike other sleep disorders, many people are unaware that they have sleep apnea. yeah. In fact, they may be getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night. That’s why it’s important to know the risk factors and signs of sleep apnea.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is caused by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. Your body doesn’t get enough oxygen during sleep, so you have to get up to breathe, even if you don’t know you’re awake. This frequent awakening leads to poor sleep quality. There are mainly he two types of sleep apnea.
Central sleep apnea is a condition in which the brain is unable to tell the body to breathe during sleep. This type is rare.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the airway collapses during sleep, making it impossible for air to pass through. This type accounts for the majority of sleep apnea syndromes.
Both types of sleep apnea are serious medical conditions that require proper diagnosis with sleep apnea testing and treatment.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Physical causes of obstructive sleep apnea include being overweight, a large neck circumference, a narrow upper airway, and large tongue and tonsils. Other causes include alcohol or opioid use, smoking, being over 40, and genetics.
Is sleep apnea dangerous?
Yes, sleep apnea can be dangerous. Sleep disturbance affects more than just how refreshed you feel in the morning. This condition can increase blood pressure. As a result, the risk of heart disease increases.
“Sleep apnea may also be associated with type 2 diabetes,” says Angelo, medical director of the Center for Sleep Disorders and medical director of respiratory care at Penn Highland Health Care.・ Dr. Iluzzi (DO, FCCP, D, ABSM, FAASM) said: “Obesity increases the risk of both type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. There is also evidence that sleep apnea increases the risk of insulin resistance and can lead to type 2 diabetes. “
Sleep apnea can impair alertness and cause injury. Drowsy driving may lead to occupational accidents and automobile accidents. That’s why it’s so important to get tested for sleep apnea if you think you have sleep apnea.
How can I tell if I have sleep apnea?
“The only way to know for sure is to get tested for sleep apnea,” says Iluzzi. “If you feel sleepy during the day after sleeping 7-8 hours at night, or if your bed partner says they snore loudly, or if you witness them gasping for air while sleeping, sleep Talk to your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea.”
Other signs of sleep apnea include decreased alertness, frequent awakenings during the night, sexual dysfunction, and dry mouth and headaches upon awakening.
What is a sleep apnea test?
A sleep apnea test, also called a sleep study, is a medical test that tracks breathing, heart rate, eye movements, and other metrics during sleep. The results show the doctor how many times breathing was interrupted during the night. Doctors use the information collected during the test to determine whether you have sleep apnea and what type it is.
Penn Highlands Healthcare Sleep Centers provide treatments for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders to help you restore quality sleep. Penn Highlands Healthcare pulmonologists provide a full range of sleep-focused care, from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up. Penn Highlands also offers an at-home sleep study that allows you to receive diagnostics directly from the comfort of your bed. If you need to go to a lab for sleep research, all of their sleep centers are fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. For more information, visit www.phhealthcare.org/sleep.
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