Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that can substantially impact your partner’s health and your quality of sleep. Your partner might have sleep apnea if their loud snoring is keeping you from a good night’s sleep. However, not everyone who snores is dealing with sleep apnea and not everybody who has sleep apnea snores. If your partner’s snoring disrupts your sleep, seeking a professional diagnosis is crucial, as untreated sleep apnea can cause severe health problems.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Millions of Americans experience the common sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). When somebody with sleep apnea attempts to sleep, their breathing is disrupted again and again, maybe even hundreds of times. These interruptions are usually the result of a total or partial obstruction of the airway, forcing the diaphragm and chest muscles to work harder to reopen the airway. A body jerk or a loud gasp frequently happens when breathing starts back up.
Chronic OSA hinders your partner from achieving restful sleep, decreases oxygen flow to vital organs, and can result in heart rhythm disturbances. Although children and younger people can develop sleep apnea, it’s normally a condition that affects people who are over 50 and who are frequently overweight.
Sleep apnea symptoms
You will notice the symptoms of sleep apnea even while your partner is entirely unaware of the condition. Here are a few common symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Feeling run-down and exhausted during the day
- Snoring loudly
- Having to get out of bed frequently to urinate
- Headaches and dry mouth in the morning
- Difficulty focusing
- Morning dizziness
- Sudden awakenings with choking or gasping for air
One telling indication is a period of silence following deep snoring, then a sudden choking or gasping sound. This routine can leave both partners feeling unrested and fatigued throughout the day.
What are the health impacts of OSA?
Sleep apnea can significantly impact health and well-being. Job performance can be impacted by poor concentration and car accidents can be the result of daytime sleepiness. More critically, OSA increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. OSA has also been related to vascular conditions like heart attacks, stroke, and atrial fibrillation as a result of oxygen deprivation.
Being overweight is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea, and the condition itself makes weight loss more difficult. Neglected sleep apnea can also cause depression and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) related to memory loss.
Leaving sleep apnea undiagnosed and untreated can be dangerous. Notably, numerous celebrities, including Reggie White, Jerry Garcia, Carrie Fisher, James Gandolfini, and John Candy, have died from complications related to sleep apnea.
Don’t ignore symptoms of sleep apnea
If you think your partner has sleep apnea, it’s crucial to discuss it with them. Consider getting professional help for the health and well-being of you and your partner. The majority of the physical and emotional problems related to OSA can be eased by effective treatment after being diagnosed with a complete sleep study and evaluation.