Sleep Apnea 101: An Overview

If you are someone that snores a lot, wakes up to take in a big breath, or has fatigue, 
you might be exhibiting signs of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder that many 
people experience where you either have short pauses in your breathing during sleep, 
or you have shallow breaths. It is common, but also something you need to take 
seriously. Here is more information about this sleep disorder.

Types of Sleep Apnea

The first thing you should know is that there are two main types of sleep apnea, 
including central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea. Most people with this sleep 
disorder will have obstructive sleep apnea. This is much more common and creates a 
blockage in the airway while sleeping. It occurs when the tissue in the back throat 
temporarily collapses during sleep. The other type is central sleep apnea, which is from 
the brain not signaling you to breathe during sleep. This can sometimes be more 
dangerous.

Symptoms to be Aware of

The primary symptom of sleep apnea is waking up gasping for air or realizing you were 
not breathing while sleeping. This usually startles you awake where you need to take in 
a large gasp of air. Aside from that, you should look for symptoms like always being 
tired, having irregular heartbeats, snoring, or having depression. Frequent headaches 
throughout the day can also be a sign of experiencing sleep apnea.

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

While anyone can develop sleep apnea, there are some people that tend to be at a 
higher risk. One of the big risk factors is being overweight, so if you have trouble 
sleeping or snoring and are not at a healthy weight, now might be a good time to 
remedy that. You are also at a higher risk if you are over the age of 40, a male, or have 
an especially large neck size. Large tonsils, GERD, and a family history of sleep apnea 
can also be risk factors.

What You Can do About it

Luckily, there are several treatment options available for sleep apnea. You can wear a 
breathing or oral device while you sleep, lose weight, try natural remedies, and even get 
surgery. The treatment you get will depend on the severity of your sleep apnea and 
what remedies you have tried in the past. It is essential that you see a doctor instead of 
just trying to self-treat your sleep apnea.


