Sleep Apnea – Figuring out the reason for the weekday blues!

We all know the tell-tale signs of not getting enough sleep. We wake up irritated, unhappy, with a foggy memory and sometimes need another nap just after getting up to fix the problems caused by the lack of it.

Sleep is possibly the most important activity we perform in a day. Sleeping well boosts our immune system, keeps us physically and mentally healthy and helps us be productive throughout the day. Sleep also boosts our immune system and helps our body to rejuvenate itself from the rigours of the workday and be ready for the next day.

What is sleep apnea?

However, most of those suffering from a lack of sleep may not know what is causing their weekday blues, productivity problems at work or mood changes. The answer is a condition known as Sleep Apnea. To put this into the simplest of terms, sleep apnea can be envisioned as having trouble breathing nearly 30 times an hour. For sufferers of sleep apnea, this is exactly what happens when they are asleep. This problem leads to a deficiency of oxygen that reaches the brain and can have far-reaching health implications than just a bad day at work—if left untreated, that is.

The characteristic symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is snoring—as sufferers gasp for breath while sleeping, they make snoring, choking, gasping sounds which are mostly attributed to fatigue or a companion of deep sleep.

How do I figure out if I have sleep apnea?

This is the easy bit. The first step is self-analysis, in which you or your partner can see if you or the other snore, and if you have been suffering from the tell-tale signs of sleep apnea. Although not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnea but getting a home-sleep study can go a long way in ensuring timely treatment.

Here are the top 5 tell-tale signs of sleep apnea.

• Daytime sleepiness: feeling tired when you wake up no matter how long you’ve slept and feeling sleepy throughout the day.
• Snoring: Very loud snoring that may wake up or disturb others
• Gasping and choking: Waking up breathless, gasping for air or having a sensation of choking when you wake up. You may also experience headaches in the morning along with dry mouth and throat or a sore throat.
• Difficulty sleeping: Waking up a lot, feeling restless while sleeping or not being able to sleep.
• Cognitive and mood changes: Memory problems, anxiety, depression and loss of interest in sex.

Analyzing your or your partner’s bedtime routine and going for a simple, non-invasive test can help in diagnosing sleep apnea. A Sleep Study is considered to be the gold standard in detecting sleep apnea. A non-invasive test that involves measuring oxygen saturation, heart rate, airflow, body movement, time spent snoring, sleep position, and brain waves. Although this might sound a lot, all this is done non-invasively while you’re sleeping.

Due to investigational breakthroughs brought to your home by Sanrai, you can now get a sleep study in the comfort of your own home. A few electrodes to measure activity, a pulse oximeter finger clip to measure oxygen and a flow rate measuring device to measure your airflow is all it takes to check if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep experts at Sanrai will analyze your sleep study report and help you to figure out ways to help you overcome this condition.

What if I ignore the therapy or recommended lifestyle changes?

The changes or regimens suggested by our sleep experts and doctors will be totally optional, however, sleep apnea is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, diabetes, and sleep-deprived driving accidents. Using simple lifestyle changes and non-invasive treatment regimens such as CPAP machines can go a long way in ensuring a good night’s sleep.

If you or your partner are experiencing the tell-tale signs of sleep apnea that we listed above, do not hesitate to contact us. Sleep specialists at Sanrai will help you feel better in no time! Get a good night’s sleep today!

CPAP machines by manufacturers such as ResMed are brought to you by Sanrai – an innovative global distributor of medical products that are focused to ensure your good health. Sanrai puts its focus on ensuring quality products, timely service, and a world-class support system that is there for you when you need it the most.