Do you snore and think you have Sleep Apnea?
Take a moment and ask yourself these questions.
- Do you snore?
- Are you excessively tired during the day?
- Have you been told you stop breathing during your sleep?
- Do you have a history of hypertension?
- Does your neck measure > 17 inches (male) or > 16 inches (female)?
If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you have a positive screening for Sleep Apnea. Contact Florida Lung And Sleep Apnea Center to schedule an appointment.
Approximately 30 million Americas are victims of a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Apnea is a Greek word meaning, "without breath." Those suffering from sleep apnea will literally stop breathing in their sleep. This can happen often hundreds of time throughout the same night!
How does it occur?
During normal sleep, throat muscles relax. If the throat is crowded, the airway collapses during sleep. Airflow stops and the blood oxygen level drops, which causes the brain to wake up.
If you have sleep apnea, this cycle may repeat hundreds of times during the night while you have no idea it is happening.
Common symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Fatigue and tiredness during the day
- Loud snoring
- Waking up with choking or gasping
- Not feeling rested in the morning or satisfied with a night's sleep
- A strong desire to take a daily afternoon nap
- Unexplained accidents or errors
- Morning headaches
How serious is Sleep Apnea?
At Florida Lung And Sleep Apnea Center we take this condition seriously as sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Undiagnosed severe sleep apnea can cause irregular heartbeats, unstable high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest during sleep, or a harmful accident.
Increased daytime sleepiness poses a serious risk of automobile accidents, impaired functioning in the workplace and in personal relationships.
Untreated sleep apnea tends to progressively worsen and can cause partial or complete disability and death.
How is Sleep Apnea diagnosed?
After an initial consultation with Florida Lung And Sleep Apnea Center, we may recommend a Home Sleep Test or an overnight sleep study called polysomnography or PSG, to diagnose sleep apnea.
Other common characteristics of Sleep Apnea
- Obesity
- Small jaw, thick neck
- High blood pressure
- Restless sleep; the repeated struggle to breath can be associated with a great deal of movement.
- Depressed mood and/or irritability
- Reduced sex drive and impotence
- Snoring, gasping, choking during sleep