Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder, which affects millions of people globally. Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, disrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea due to repetitive cycles of snoring, airway collapse and arousal causes fragmented sleep and other complications associated with it.
Duration of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a chronic disorder. According to research, asymptomatic sleep apnea is more common as compared with symptomatic sleep apnea. Many patients are not aware of their symptoms as they occur during sleep and there is no blood test, which can diagnose it. If the problem is not treated, it may gradually increase in severity and lead to cardiovascular and other complications associated with it.
[Read: Signs and symptoms of Sleep Apnea]
Treatment with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), mouthpiece (or an oral appliance) and lifestyle changes can improve the symptoms, quality of sleep and decrease the risk of complications (such as hypertension, heart failure etc). Surgery to alleviate airway obstruction may control snoring and other symptoms of sleep apnea.
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