Living With Sleep Apnea

Do you snore loudly, wake up feeling tired or find yourself struggling to stay awake during the day? These may be signs of sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. These pauses in breathing can last from seconds to minutes and may occur many times throughout the night.

Left untreated, sleep apnea can affect more than your sleep. It has been linked to serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Fortunately, effective treatments are available and can help improve both sleep and overall health.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Do you recognize any of the following signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in yourself or a loved one?

• Unusual sleepiness during the day
• Morning headaches
• Problems concentrating and recalling memory
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking up
• Feeling irritable or experiencing mood swings, feeling depressed
• Loud, uninterrupted snoring
• Witnessed pause in breathing (by a family member)
• Fragmented sleep

If you believe you have sleep apnea, consult your doctor to see if you require further sleep testing. There are three options: a home test, an overnight test in a sleep facility, or referral to a sleep specialist.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

A number of treatments are available to manage your sleep apnea:

• Lifestyle changes: Lose weight, quit smoking, avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• Oral appliances: Used to adjust your lower jaw to open air passageways
• Breathing devices: A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is a common treatment.
• Surgery: Sometimes can be performed to widen air passageways

CPAP technology has advanced significantly in recent years. Today's machines are much quieter, and the masks are better designed to be more comfortable and easier to wear.

Think You May Have Sleep Apnea?

Community's sleep centers offer both home and overnight sleep study options. For more information, visit eCommunity.com/sleep. The first step is to consult your primary care doctor for more information and treatment options. If you need a primary care physician, please call 317-621-2727 for an appointment or browse providers in Find a Doctor.