Sleep Apnea in Grand Rapids, MI

Oct 19

People in Grand Rapids, MI, with sleep apnea have trouble breathing when sleeping, and breathing is interrupted during sleep by a blockage of the airway. This can happen anywhere from 5 to 30 times per hour. The severity of sleep apnea ranges depending on how often and for how long it lasts for each patient in Grand Rapids. Untreated sleep apnea may lead to other health problems such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

What is sleep apnea, and how does it affect your health?

Sleep Apnea in Grand Rapids, MI is a sleep disorder where the patient has pauses in their breathing or shallow breaths; this leads to "micro" sleeping or shallow sleep overall. The lack of sleep can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, heart disease, high blood pressure, and increased instances of diabetes. Sleep apnea Grand Rapids affects men more than women because it mainly occurs in patients who are overweight or obese. People in Grand Rapids, MI, with sleep apnea are diagnosed through an overnight sleep study called polysomnography (PSG). On average, five million people suffer from sleep apnea each night!

Symptoms of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is marked by a repetitive reduction or complete stoppage of sleep, sometimes for up to 10 seconds. This sleep deprivation can take a toll on your health and daily life, including metabolism, productivity, and mood in Grand Rapids, MI.

The sleep disorder is a continuous sleep disturbance that usually lasts for more than 10 seconds. In sleep apnea, the person usually snores loudly but does not get enough oxygen during sleep because his or her breathing muscles have relaxed too much. This lack of oxygen triggers the body's arousal system that makes the sleeper wake up briefly. The cycle repeats throughout sleep time, often seven to eight times per hour.

Sleep apnea in Grand Rapids, MI, is common in overweight and middle-aged or elderly adults. It also affects children, though it may go undiagnosed for a while.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

loud snoring
shortness of breath or gasping during sleep
pauses in breathing or periods where the person is unable to breathe at all (apnea)
Restless sleep and lack of sleep even when one has had adequate time to rest can lead to mood changes, irritability, depression, memory problems, and reduced libido.
Other symptoms present include chronic fatigue and headaches upon waking up in the morning, sore throat due to airway obstruction, high blood pressure, increased risk for heart attack, and stroke.

Causes of sleep apnea

There are many different causes of sleep apnea in Grand Rapids. One of the most common is obesity. If you're obese and sleep on your back, the weight on your stomach and chest will push against your lungs and make it difficult to breathe. 7 out of 10 sleep disorders related to sleep apnea are linked with obesity. There's also a chance that you could have sleep apnea if:

You're a smoker
You've been drinking alcohol or caffeine before bedtime
You sleep on your stomach or side
You sleep with your mouth open.

Sleep apnea can also be caused by other medical conditions, such as:

low thyroid function or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
High blood pressure - sleep apnea is common in people who have sleep apnea and hypertension together. It's believed that this may happen because high amounts of the stress hormone cortisol are released during sleep due to lack of oxygen. This then increases blood pressure levels throughout the night, leading to an increased risk for sleep apnea symptoms. The combination is sometimes called "sleep apnea syndrome." Fortunately, many treatments exist to help reduce both sleep apnea and blood pressure at once.

Treatment for sleep apnea in Grand Rapids, MI

Treatment for sleep apnea in Grand Rapids, MI, varies, but the most common treatment is to use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. This device consists of a mask that fits your nose and mouth and blows air at a steady pressure. Sleep apnea will be relieved as the air cannot flow out of your nose or mouth as you sleep because the CPAP machine blocks it. Treatment for sleep apnea in Grand Rapids, MI, also includes lifestyle changes. Losing weight, sleeping on your side rather than your back, and quitting smoking are excellent sleep apnea treatment methods.

Center for Sleep Apnea and TMJ, PC
4820 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 454-1482
https://sleepandtmjcenter.com/