Table of contents:
- Signs of sleep apnea you should watch out for
- 1. Snoring tight
- 2. Frequent urination in the middle of the night
- 3. Grind your teeth
- 4. Dry mouth
- 5. Often drool
- 6. Excessive drowsiness
Based on the results of research by the Indonesian Society of Sleep Medicine, which was reported by Kompas, people who experience sleep apnea in Indonesia find that the number is quite large. In Jakarta alone, the sufferer is around 20 percent of the total population. Even though this one sleep disorder cannot be underestimated. The reason is, this disorder can cause sudden death.
The good news is, sleep apnea can be controlled if you are sensitive to its signs and symptoms early on. What are the symptoms and characteristics of sleep apnea? The following is the review.
Signs of sleep apnea you should watch out for
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing often stops during sleep. In the medical world, sleep apnea that is caused by a blockage in the respiratory tract is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Obstructive sleep apnea can occur at various stages of sleep, both during non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement or deep sleep) and during REM. Because of this resistance, the air flow to the lungs is choked. So, can you imagine, when you sleep suddenly the oxygen supply that enters the body stops?
The blockage that occurs in this airway will cause a person to wake up suddenly. As a result, the quality of your sleep decreases, which makes you less energized and less productive the next day. This sleep disturbance can last for 10-60 seconds, but in an extreme stage this condition can also recur every 30 seconds.
Sleep apnea is a condition that cannot be underestimated. That is why it is important to know the various signs and symptoms of this condition so that you can immediately get the right treatment. Here are some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea that you should be aware of.
1. Snoring tight
Snoring or snoring is the main sign of this sleep disorder. During sleep, the airways are relaxed, weak, and narrow. As a result, even though there is a breath movement, air circulation is hampered. This causes the tissue around the respiratory tract to vibrate, resulting in an annoying snoring sound.
Most people who snore while sleeping are not aware that they are snoring. As if choking during sleep, those who snore will wake up for a moment and then continue sleeping again.
2. Frequent urination in the middle of the night
If you frequently urinate in the middle of the night, this could be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep disturbance due to frequent urination occurs due to inhibition of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production. This hormone works to prevent you from urinating at night.
If these hormones aren't produced, you'll urinate more frequently. In addition, sleep apnea will also make you more sensitive about how full your bladder is at night. This is what also encourages you to urinate more often.
Frequent urination at night is called nocturia, which can be caused by various causes such as excessive fluid intake before bed, use of diuretic drugs such as furosemide, or benign prostatic hypertrophy.
3. Grind your teeth
Grinding your teeth, or in medical language called bruxism, can also be a sign that you have sleep apnea. For some people, this bad habit occurs unconsciously during sleep.
The habit of grinding teeth that is still in a mild stage does not require further treatment or treatment. However, for some cases, this bad habit can lead to chin abnormalities, headaches, tooth decay, and other problems.
4. Dry mouth
Often wake up with a dry mouth or hoarse throat? If so, you must be vigilant. The reason is, this is one indication of sleep apnea. Dry mouth often occurs when the nose becomes blocked which causes a person to breathe through the mouth.
This could be due to flu, colds, allergies, or other medical conditions. Preparing a glass of water by the bed can be the best way to deal with your dry mouth after waking up to reduce the risk of this disorder.
5. Often drool
When you are awake, the saliva produced by the salivary glands is automatically swallowed. While in a state of sleep, the muscles of the body relax so that the saliva is not swallowed and collects in the oral cavity. This still happens even though when sleeping, the amount of water produced by the body is less than when you are in a conscious state.
The slanted sleeping position can cause the saliva that has collected in the oral cavity to flow out. This is what makes someone drool.
6. Excessive drowsiness
As explained above, sleep apnea will make the quality of your sleep every night worse because you wake up frequently at night. As a result, you often feel dizzy and your body does not feel refreshed when you wake up, has difficulty concentrating, and is excessively sleepy during the day (hypersomnia).