Complications Associated With Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a very common sleeping that can lead to serious complications if left unchecked. When an individual is affected by this condition, their breathing will stop and start regularly throughout the night, which can make it difficult for them to get the rest they need. There are several different types of sleep apnea, including obstructive sleep apnea, complex sleep apnea syndrome, and central sleep apnea. The most common of these types is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the throat muscles relax too much and cause an obstruction to occur within the airways. The symptoms of these types of sleep apnea can overlap with one another, which means a diagnosis can be difficult. The main symptoms patients will likely experience include loud snoring, gasping for breath while sleeping, headaches in the morning, general irritability, and issues with staying asleep. Some risk factors that could contribute to the development of sleep apnea include having a narrowed airway, being excessively overweight, being older, and smoking.