Case 8.5 Surprising Facts About Sleep Apnea

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Initial 8: 5 Surprising Facts About Sleep Apnea

No one likes snoring, not even the person doing the snoring. But what are you going to do? Everyone makes noise when they sleep, right? Isn’t snoring just something that some people do?

Yes and no. You’re right that some noise at night is normal, and even the quietest sleeper can snore a little bit on occasion. But the kind of snoring that happens all the time and loud enough to wake the whole house is definitely not supposed to happen. Such noise could be a sign of a serious health problem called sleep apnea.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

This sleeping disorder can literally cause you to stop breathing as you sleep. Normally when you sleep, your body keeps breathing like you would expect. But people with sleep apnea either have trouble breathing or outright stop while asleep. This often leads to horrible snoring.

There are two types of sleep apnea: OSA and CSA. OSA stands for obstructive sleep apnea, and this is when the muscles in your throat get too relaxed and start to close off your airway. …show more content…

That’s probably because weight is a risk factor for sleep apnea. People who are overweight (with a BMI of 25 or higher) are more likely to get sleep apnea. But the same is true for diabetes. If you’re unhealthy, you’re more likely to get diabetes — but that doesn’t mean healthy people can’t get it. The fact is that sleep apnea can strike anyone regardless of health, age, or weight.
Alcohol can make it worse: We all know you can have a few drinks before bed to help you sleep, right? Actually, no. Alcohol can make you feel drowsy, but as the alcohol leaves your system, you wake up again. People who suffer from sleep apnea might fall asleep a little faster, but that alcohol will actually make the situation worse. You will snore even more loudly and wake up more

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