From simple tossing-and-turning to insomnia, a sleep disorder is definitely the last thing you need. After the hard day’s work, you just want to take comfort in your soft bed and wake up after 8 hours. But if a goodnight’s sleep is hardly easy for you, you might want to check if you’re already suffering from sleep apnea. As with any health advise, consult with your doctor first for expert opinion.

Sleep apnea is a kind of chronic sleeping disorder where the person repeatedly stops breathing during the night, since the word “apnea” means “no breath”. People who suffer from this disorder show signs of snorting, gasping, or shortness of breath in the middle of sleep.

Apnea happens when the levels of blood oxygen drops resulting in an increase in heart rate, burst of stress hormones. These result in waking up; interrupting what could have been a long rest.

Take note of the following signs and symptoms of this disorder: loud snoring, choking, excessive drowsiness during daytime, headaches in the morning, memory problems and poor concentration, increased irritability, depression and extreme mood swings, or dry throat / mouth during sleep.

This disorder happens when the airway is blocked or has collapsed. It can be caused by either of the following: obesity, excessive tissue volume in the airway, loss of muscle tone, or when the brain forgets to tell your body to breathe.

You might think that it’s just another sleep disorder but it’s not. Sleep apnea is known to lead to serious health problems such as stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregul

ar heartbeat, heart attack, high blood pressure, heartburn and reflux, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, concentration / memory problems, and sometimes even death.

To get yourself checked or treated for sleep apnea, have yourself subject to polysomnogram. Your sleep disorder will be analyzed in a sleep laboratory to guarantee that you get the most rest out of your sleep.