While a lot of people are completely surprised when they learn that they have a specific health condition, others are often aware that something is amiss with their health. You might belong to the latter category if you're contending with sleep apnea. You may be aware of breathing difficulties at night and feel that sleep apnea is to blame, but perhaps you're concerned about hearing an actual diagnosis. It's important, however, to take action if you're aware that you have a few sleep apnea symptoms. A proper diagnosis will be the key to getting the help that you need. Here are some reasons that you shouldn't ignore your suspected sleep apnea.
Risk Of Death
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can sometimes be fatal. When you're sleeping, your body will occasionally "forget" to breathe. Although you'll often wake up—typically feeling short of breath and often experiencing a feeling of panic in such moments—there's a risk that you could not wake up in time during a future episode. Sleep apnea is highly treatable, and one or more treatment techniques such as using a CPAP machine will dramatically reduce the risk of this health issue becoming fatal.
Heart Stress
Untreated sleep apnea puts a considerable strain on your heart. When you stop breathing for a short period of time and then wake up with a start, you'll often notice that your heart is beating at a high rate. Such moments, especially if they occur frequently and if your overall health isn't very good, can be detrimental to your heart health. When you suspect that you have sleep apnea but you ignore the condition, you may eventually regret this decision if you begin to face one or more serious heart issues.
Disrespect To Your Partner
If you share your bed with a partner, getting help for your sleep apnea offers respect to them. While you should know that this condition can be detrimental to your own health, it's important to realize that it also affects your partner. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly, which can be disruptive to their partner. Additionally, when you wake up and gasp for air, this will often wake up the other person in your bed. Finally, your partner may be stressed about your health if they suspect that you have sleep apnea. Ignoring the condition can cause additional stress or anxiety for your partner. When you contact a medical professional like Upstate Sleep Solutions to get treatment for this condition, you're showing respect for the well-being of your significant other.
Share
