Sleep apnea is a condition that involves a lack of recuperative sleep. It’s distinguished by the breathing stops and starts suddenly. The result is that your sleep pattern is interrupted and your body and mind don’t get the rest that’s required. If any of the following applies to you, there’s a good chance that undergoing some sort of sleep apnea treatment would make a difference.
Waking Up More Frequently at Night
When your breathing stops and starts, there’s a good chance that you will awaken with a start. While you may begin to drift off soon after, the fact is that it will take time to get back into any type of deep sleep. With some people, it may be hard to get back to sleep at all.
While it’s not unusual for people to wake up once during the night, this is not something that should be happening several times a night. If that’s become the norm for you, something should be done before the lack of restful sleep begins to trigger other health issues.
Feeling Tired First Thing in The Morning
Even if you don’t remember waking up several times a night, the effect will manifest in the morning. Instead of feeling rested, you feel sluggish and possibly more worn out than when you went to bed. That’s because your sleep was not deep enough to provide the refreshment that your body and mind needs.
Mornings can be difficult enough, especially when you need to get up and prepare for the work day. A lack of energy and a desire to go back to bed just complicates things. The right treatment won’t make you love mornings, but it could ensure you feel rested enough to get out of bed and begin preparing for the day.
Feeling Unusually Tired in the Afternoon
Fatigue is not only something you deal with in the morning. There’s also a good chance that you’re experiencing something more severe than a typical mid-afternoon slump. The tiredness you feel around three o’clock is not something that you can stave off with a cup of coffee or a light snack. In fact, it may be so severe that trying to get any more work done is difficult.
After beginning a sleep apnea treatment, you’re likely to notice that those afternoon slumps aren’t as severe. You may still feel a little tired, based on the type of work that you do. Even so, it’s mild enough that it’s possible to keep going and wrap up the work day without feeling totally drained.
No Desire to Do Anything After Work
Even if you’re managing to get through the work day, there’s nothing left by the time you leave the office. Instead, the only thing that you want to do is get home, have a bite to eat, and then head for the couch. From there, the next stop is the bed and hopes for better rest tonight.
After the treatments begin to take effect, things will be different. You may feel more like stopping on the way home to do some quick shopping, or meet friends for supper. In any event, you don’t feel so tired that doing nothing is the only thing on your mind.
Don’t consider sleep apnea a minor issue. Over time, it can adversely affect your health in a number of ways. See a medical professional today and explore the options for treatment. As you begin to feel better, there will be no doubt that you made the right decision.