At Advanced Homecare we work with patients that are dealing with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) daily, but did you know we also work with patients that have not yet been diagnosed? We offer sleep studies and can also recommend the best process to get a diagnosis. Before either of those things happen though, we need to hear from you! How would you know if you should be tested?
Here are some of the warning signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
Snoring
Patients are most frequently diagnosed after complaints from a partner that snoring is keeping them awake. In addition to snoring, partners and others can sometimes see the bouts of apnea or hypopneas. These are the times in which the patient stops breathing.
Waking Up Frequently
Patients often wake up after bouts of apnea. This is the body’s defense against lack of oxygen. If you find yourself waking up frequently through the night, and the other symptoms are also familiar, you should get a sleep study as soon as possible.
Dry Mouth
Sleep apnea means struggling to get oxygen into your lungs. This struggle will usually cause dry mouth. If you’re waking up feeling dry and scratchy in the mouth, it could be sleep apnea.
Feeling Tired ALL The Time
If sleep apnea is ruining your sleep, it’s going to affect all aspects of your life. You will feel tired all the time and may take frequent naps to try to catch up. If you are finding yourself tired all the time, start the process of self-diagnosis by keeping a journal or when you went to bed, when you woke up and how many times you woke in the night (this would be times you woke up completely. Do not try to record times you think you woke, or wake yourself up more than necessary to write in your sleep journal.)
Headaches
Sleep deprivation causes headaches. Before you count this as a symptom, take stock of your lifestyle. Are you drinking enough water and avoiding alcohol? Both of these will cause headaches AND stop you from getting good sleep.
Mood Swings/ Anxiety/ Lack of Patience/ Inability to Focus
“By helping us keep the world in perspective, sleep gives us a chance to refocus on the essence of who we are. And in that place of connection, it is easier for the fears and concerns of the world to drop away.” (THE SLEEP REVOLUTION)
A lack of sleep can do bad things to our mental health. Sleep is our brain’s way of collecting memories and assessing things that happen to us. Without that moment of calm in your head, things pile up and you lose your ability to deal with ordinary day-to-day things, let alone things that are stressful.
Obstructive sleep apnea can cause a host of other medical and emotional issues. If you are having any of the symptoms listed above, get in touch with us, or reach out to your physician. It’s important to get diagnosed so that you can start banking good sleep and get back to good health. Contact us today if you would like more information.
