Restless Sleep ?
If you’re like me you sleep like a baby, never waking up till morning light. For many people that would be a dream come true. They toss and turn all night,waking up several times,never getting a restful nights sleep. Some folks will sound like they are in a deep sleep because they are snoring so loud,but they actually wake themselves up along with anyone else in the room.
The problem may not be restlessness, it may be sleep apnea. This is a condition in which your breathing momentarily stops and starts over and over causing you to wake up. The most common type of sleep apnea is when your throat muscle relax and narrows or restricts your airway. Another type is not as common and is when your brain fails to send signals to your breathing muscles.If not looked into sleep apnea can lead to other problems such as cardiovascular disease which includes high blood pressures,stroke,heart arrhythmias and so forth.
Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea are:
- Loud snoring
- Difficulty sleeping
- Daytime sleepiness
- Breathing cessation while asleep
- Shortness of breath after waking up
- Morning headaches
See your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. He may recommend a sleep specialist who may suggest overnight monitoring at a sleep center to determine the severity of your symptoms. I have a friend who has a severe case and has to wear a breathing mask while he sleeps that delivers air pressure to keep his airways open. Whatever you do please see your doctor as soon as you develop any of the above symptoms.