Your quality of sleep and your partner’s health can be significantly impacted by sleep apnea, which is a serious medical condition. If your partner’s heavy snoring keeps you up at night, it could be an indication of sleep apnea. However, not everyone who snores is dealing with sleep apnea and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. If your partner’s snoring disturbs your sleep, getting a professional diagnosis is essential, as untreated sleep apnea can cause severe health issues.
Understanding obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a widespread sleep disorder impacting millions of Americans. This condition causes recurring disruptions in breathing throughout the night, which can happen hundreds of times. Usually, a partial or complete obstruction of the airways is responsible for these interruptions, and that causes the diaphragm and chest muscles to do a lot of extra work to breathe. A body jerk or a loud gasp often happens when breathing starts back up.
Heart rhythm disturbances and reduction of oxygen flow to vital organs can be outcomes of chronic OSA which can also prevent you and your partner from achieving the rest needed to be healthy. While OSA is more prevalent in people who are overweight and over 50, even children can develop this condition.
Sleep apnea symptoms
Often, the individual with OSA is not aware of their condition, but their partner can see the signs. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Daytime fatigue and excessive drowsiness
- Having to get out of bed frequently to urinate
- Snoring loudly
- Headaches and dry mouth in the morning
- Dizziness in the morning
- Issues with concentration
- Sudden awakenings with choking or gasping for air
Deep snoring followed by a period of silence then abrupt choking or gasping is a telltale sign. This pattern can leave both partners feeling unrested and tired throughout the day.
OSA health concerns
Sleep apnea can seriously impact health and well-being. Job performance can be impacted by poor focus 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.
OSA makes losing weight more difficult and being overweight is a significant OSA risk factor. Untreated sleep apnea can also result in depression and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) related to memory loss.
It’s dangerous to leave sleep apnea undiagnosed and untreated. Numerous celebrities have died due to complications of sleep apnea, notably, James Gandolfini, Carie Fisher, Jerry Garcia, and Reggie White.
Don’t ignore symptoms of sleep apnea
If you think your partner has sleep apnea, it’s essential to talk it over with them. Consider getting professional help for the health and well-being of both of you. A thorough sleep study and evaluation can diagnose OSA, and successful treatment can alleviate many of the associated physical and emotional issues.