Sleep disorders are medical problems that can cause great problems to an individual’s health and lifestyle. But the lifestyle isn’t the only factor that is affected by sleep disorders. When the sleep problem is severe, even the individual’s career is compromised.
Sleep Apnea, a sleeping disorder, often goes undiagnosed and affects millions of people all over the world. People who experience the sleep problem also experience the effects that it brings about in their lives. Patients with sleep apnea experience the cessation of airflow for at least 10 seconds. At this point, the body notices there is a low amount of oxygen supply in the blood. The brain’s response to this is to make the body awaken and gasp for air. This may cause the individual to wake panting, sweating, and anxious because they feel they cannot breath. “Imagine a plastic bag tied around your head and jumping in to a pool.” This episode can happen over and over again throughout the night never allowing the individual to get a full nights rest and sleep.
Daytime symptoms of Sleep Apnea may include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Poor memory, clouded intellect
- Poor concentration and performance
- Fatigue
- Morning headache
- Decreased sex drive, impotence
- Depression
- Irritability
- Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD)
Nighttime symptoms of Sleep Apnea may include:
- Snoring: intermittent with pauses
- Snorting or gasping while sleeping
- Awaking with gasping or choking
- Apnea pauses in breathing
- Frequent awakening
- Sweating
- Insomnia
These effects can interfere with an individual’s performance at work. When a person with Sleep Apnea goes to work in the morning, they feel sleepy and tired. They have no enthusiasm to work, nor do they have energy. Their production becomes inferior, they feel irritable and moody because of their restless body, their performance is hindered because of their inability to concentrate and complete tasks, they become annoyed easily and sensitive as well. A once productive individual can hinder their career and employment due to the effects of Sleep Apnea.
Treatments are varied to include a CPAP breathing machine that is used at night, surgical intervention, or sleep appliances that can be made by a dentist that deals with sleep apnea patients.
A person with any of the above symptoms should seek a physician that is versed in sleep medicine and see if they should have a sleep study performed.
If you have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and seek treatment, call our office today at 801.253.7553, to see if a sleep appliance is for you.