A stroke can come on suddenly and silently, causing major damage to basic human functions. Do you know how to recognize early warning signs of stroke and what to do if you or your loved one are affected? Read on to learn the warning signs.
If you’re among the estimated 38 million Americans who have sleep apnea, or millions more with other sleep disorders, you might not even be aware there’s a problem. However, sleep disorders don’t just impact your sleep quality, they can have adverse effects on your overall health.
At the Spine and Sports Center in Houston and Sugarland, Texas, Dr. Ed Cheril Benny diagnoses and treats many types of sleep disorders. He can help you find a way to reduce your risk of additional health issues that can be impacted by interrupted sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) causes your airway to close while you’re sleeping. You don’t wake up, but your throat closes off as the tongue and soft tissues at the back of your upper palate relax and mash together.
Eventually, your brain realizes something is wrong and triggers a startle response. You’ll jerk with a snore, snort, or gasp and resume a normal breathing pattern. If this happens multiple times every hour and lasts for stretches of 10 seconds or longer, you have sleep apnea.
Many people don’t realize they’re having episodes until their bed partner complains about snoring and snorting. Even if you don’t wake up, they’re likely to. If your partner mentions this behavior being chronic, you should have yourself checked for a sleep disorder.
There are many different sleep disorders, including:
All of these sleep disorders can lead to symptoms that cause more severe problems if left untreated.
If you have one or more of the following signs, you should be checked for sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.
Daytime sleepiness can be an early sign of sleep apnea issues and can make you irritable and mentally fatigued.
Drowsiness when driving is a hallmark of many sleep disorders, especially if you have a daily driving routine that puts you on autopilot.
An unhappy partner is a sign that your condition may have progressed to a more serious stage since it’s keeping them up all night every night.
Weight gain can be a sign of a metabolic disorder. Sleep disorders increase your risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.
Elevated blood pressure can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, especially if cardiovascular symptoms like arrhythmia are untreated.
Ready to discuss sleep disorders with a qualified sleep medicine doctor? Contact your closest Spine and Sports Center location by phone or online to make an appointment today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
A stroke can come on suddenly and silently, causing major damage to basic human functions. Do you know how to recognize early warning signs of stroke and what to do if you or your loved one are affected? Read on to learn the warning signs.
Do you have constant, nagging hip pain that doesn’t go away? Hip pain that’s resistant to over-the-counter medication and hurts badly enough you can’t sleep at night indicates you need to see a specialist.
What happens when all signs and symptoms point to Parkinson’s Disease, but it’s not Parkinson’s after all? You could have parkinsonism, a condition that mimics Parkinson’s symptoms but has different underlying causes.
Shoulder arthritis is painful, frustrating, and debilitating. Determining the cause of your pain can give you and your doctor a better idea of how to treat it, restoring your mobility and range of motion
Do you have headaches that happen multiple times a week, causing disruption in your day-to-day life? Chronic headaches often are connected to lifestyle habits. Find out how to break the pattern by changing your habits.
Is knee pain from arthritis or injury starting to make every day feel like a grind? Alleviate pain and restore your ability to enjoy your life with these five simple habits to strengthen your knees and minimize inflammation.