Your snoring isn’t just a problem for your partner—it can also be a problem for you. Habitual snoring affects 40 percent of men and 24 percent of women, and oftentimes, this habitual snoring is a warning sign of a common sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. If you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, it’s important that you visit our Winchester, VA, neurologists for an evaluation as soon as you can.
Is my snoring caused by sleep apnea?
While this can be hard to pinpoint on your own, if you either wake up feeling exhausted throughout the day despite getting sufficient sleep or if your partner says that you wake up gasping for air in the middle of the night, then you very well could have sleep apnea. While many people with obstructive sleep apnea snore, not everyone that snores has sleep apnea. If you are a chronic loud snorer who fits the profile above, it’s well worth scheduling a consultation with one of the neurologists here at our office in Winchester, VA.
What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?
Obstructive sleep apnea is when the tongue or tissue in the back of the throat blocks the airways while you sleep, an effect that greatly reduces how much oxygen gets to the brain. As a result, you will often feel extremely tired even after getting, supposedly, enough sleep. If sleep apnea goes untreated, it can also lead to a whole host of serious and potentially life-threatening health problems including,
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Serious accidents or injuries
This is why it’s so important to seek a proper medical evaluation for your snoring, especially if you suspect that you might be dealing with sleep apnea. After all, the sooner you can treat the problem, the sooner you can reduce your risk of experiencing the above-listed health problems.
How is sleep apnea treated?
The most common treatment option for sleep apnea is CPAP therapy, a treatment provides patients with pressurized oxygen and air that is administered through a facemask while the person is asleep. This equipment is used every night to help keep the airways open.
Since sleep apnea isn’t curable, CPAP therapy will need to be used every night in order to get symptoms under control. Fortunately, most people will experience more restful sleep after just a few nights of using CPAP therapy.
Concerned? Give us a call
If you are dealing with snoring and poor sleep in Winchester, VA, it’s important that you see someone who can address the issue and find out what’s going on. Call Winchester Neurological Consultants today at (540) 667-1828 today to schedule a consultation.