No matter how healthy a person is, you can expect them to have lacked the strength to do their daily routine without enough sleep. Thus, every country has declared standard working hours for full-time employees to guarantee that everyone would have enough energy for the next day. The only problem, however, is that not everyone can have a good night’s sleep even if they want to. According to local studies, 15% of locals suffer from sleep apnea in Singapore and often find themselves feeling sleepy during the daytime.
If you are not familiar with sleep apnea but wondering whether or not you have this condition, keep reading this article. In the following chapters, you will learn the three different types of sleep apnea, who are at risk, and when people with sleep apnea should seek help from an ENT doctor in Singapore.
Part I: What Is Sleep Apnea?
When someone has sleep apnea, their breathing repeatedly stops and resumes while they are asleep. Because it only occurs while a person is sleeping, it is sometimes known as a sleeping disorder.
Even though sleep apnea seems like a harmless medical condition, it can pose serious health problems such as high blood pressure if left untreated. You should know that sleep apnea is unlike regular snoring due to various factors.
Before discussing those factors, here are the different types of sleep apnea.
Three Types Of Sleep Apnea
● Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- It is the most common type of sleep apnea since 1 billion people in the world have this condition shared by The Lancet on their website. It is one of the oldest global general medical journals that published a weekly peer-reviewed research study.
Nevertheless, obstructive sleep apnea happens when the muscles behind the throat become too relaxed that blocking the airway.
● Central Sleep Apnea
- Even though central sleep apnea is not as common as obstructive sleep apnea, it is also a serious sleeping disorder since your respiratory control centre prevents your brain from instructing your muscles to breathe.
● Complex Sleep Apnea
- As the name suggests, this type of sleep apnea is the most complex of them all since it is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea. Every ENT doctor in Singapore often calls this treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.
Part II: What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Like other conditions and diseases, sleep apnea also has symptoms, which refer to the signs or manifestations of whether or not you have sleep apnea. You will know if you already have developed sleep apnea in Singapore if you suffer from the following symptoms.
- Loading snoring
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Lack of focus
- Sleepiness during daytime
- Restlessness during bedtime
- An abrupt awakening following a choking or gasping episode
- Often need to go pee at night
- Experiencing night sweats
- Feeling parched as soon as you wake up
If you can relate to all of these symptoms, there is a high chance you are suffering from sleep apnea. Consider seeing an ENT doctor from Mount Elizabeth or other places to confirm your hunch.
Part III: Who Are More At Risk Of Developing Sleep Apnea?
Since sleep apnea is more common than you think, you most likely have no idea whether or not you are at risk of developing one in your life. Knowing the risk factors will help you determine the answer and distinguish how different sleep apnea is compared to regular snoring.
Here are some of the risk factors associated with sleep apnea development.
● Excess Weight
- The heavier you are, the more fat deposits you have, and that can obstruct your breathing as the air goes through your upper airway.
● Thicker Neck Circumference
- The thicker your neck circumference, you are most likely to have narrower airways, which can prevent you from breathing well.
● Family History
- Like other diseases and conditions, sleep apnea is also hereditary. Your father might not have them, but that does not mean your ancestors do have sleep apnea. Remember that there is a phenomenon called skipped generation, and that can happen in sleep apnea.
● Smoking
- While smoking can relieve stress in some people, it can inflame the upper airway. Thus, smokers are most likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.
● High Alcohol Intake
- Alcohol beverages, however, can make the muscles around the upper airway become too relaxed, which can make obstructive sleep apnea worse.
There is a higher chance you are more at risk if you belong to more than one category. But to confirm whether or not you have sleep apnea, you should see an ENT specialist in Singapore. Remember that there might be more risk factors for sleep apnea than the one mentioned above,
Part IV: How Does An ENT Doctor In Singapore Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
If you have determined that you have sleep apnea and plan to get snoring treatment in Singapore, that does not mean the ENT doctor will do what you want right away. Before giving treatment, they have to assess your condition and perform a proper diagnosis of whether or not you have sleep apnea.
Different Ways How An ENT Doctor Diagnoses Sleep Apnea
● Assess If You Take Medication That Affects Your Sleep
- Some medications do more than treat particular diseases and conditions. Sometimes, they can also be the cause of other symptoms for different conditions.
● Ask About Your Recent Travel History
- The longer you have travelled by air, it is possible to possess some symptoms of sleep apnea. You can expect them to disappear after a few days or weeks.
● Check Family Medical History
- Your predecessors might have sleep apnea, which has been passed to you.
● Conduct Sleep Studies
- An ENT doctor who will conduct sleep studies will have to monitor the breathing and what else the body does during sleep.
When Is The Right Time To Seek Help For Sleep Apnea?
The right time is now because early detection is more promising than cure since you are likely to get well.
Contact ENT Surgeons at (65) 6235 3886 if you want to see an ENT specialist in Singapore right away and get treated for sleep apnea.