Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

I still remember that night. 2:43am. The house was completely still and quiet. That’s when the baby monitor on my nightstand began gasping, choking and wheezing in my ear. I was out of bed faster than I ever had been. My heart was pounding in my chest as I raced to my son's bedroom. Everything was a blur. My mind instantly jumped to the conclusion that my son was dying and I needed to get to him as soon as possible.

After rushing to the hospital and spending 3 hours in the dead of night at the emergency room, the doctor came out and told me that my son had “sleep apnea”. No, he wasn't going to die and yes he was absolutely fine. After being given an otherwise clean bill of health we headed home, relieved but also a bit concerned.

What the heck was “sleep apnea”?

There are some different types of sleep apnea, though the most common is referred to as “obstructive” sleep apnea. Your airway either collapses or becomes blocked during sleep, which causes that shallow or interrupted breathing that definitely causes alarm. The attempt to breath also often results in loud snoring (which is why many men and women who snore in their sleep are “misdiagnosed” as simply having a snoring problem).

The other type of sleep apnea is “central” sleep apnea which, though less common, is perhaps more alarming. This type of sleep apnea is a result of the area of our brain that controls our breathing not communicating properly with our breathing muscles. Thus, no attempts to take a breath are even made.

Though almost anyone can suffer from sleep apnea, the most common sufferers are premature babies and overweight individuals. If you think that either you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnea, be on the look out for these important symptoms:

• Loud snoring (though the snoring MAY just be that – snoring. It's important for you, your friend or family member to be checked out to see if it may be sleep apnea)
• Choking/Gasping during sleep
• Sleep disturbances or waking up suddenly
• Frequent lapses in breathing during rest
• Fatigue and sleepiness during the day

To help reduce your risk of suffering from sleep apnea, try to follow these important steps:

• If you're overweight, work on losing it.
• Sleep on your side rather than your back. This will help keep your airway open
• Keep your sleep hours regular – no going to bed at 9pm, waking up at midnight, and then trying to go back to bed at 2:30am.
• Do not use sedatives, alcohol or tobacco. These help relax your throat muscles, thus causing sleep apnea.
• Try using a saline nasal spray, “Breathe Right” strips or a nasal dilator to keep those nasal passages open and clear.

photo by Diego Medrano