If you’re like a lot of people, you might have been introduced to the term “sleep apnoea” by way of your doctor or dentist. If this is the case, it means that during sleep, your breathing becomes blocked, which disrupts your natural sleeping pattern and causes you to experience continuous shortness of breath throughout the night. There are many factors that contribute to this problem including age, allergies, pregnancy and glandular abnormalities and this is why you need to read this cpap machines review.
What Is Sleep Apnoea?
It’s estimated that about 10% of people in Canada and the United States suffer from sleep apnea. This condition is characterized by the absence of breathing for 20 seconds or more, which may occur between 10 and 180 times within a single night. You might also experience instability in heart rhythm, as well as reduced oxygen levels in your blood. Risk factors for sleep apnea include being overweight, having another sleep disorder or being male.
It’s recommended that you consult your doctor if you think you might be at risk of developing this condition, so that they can perform an examination to determine the severity of your symptoms and decide on a treatment plan that’s right for you.
How Is Sleep Apnoea Diagnosed?
There are a number of standard tests that your doctor can perform to determine whether or not you’re at risk for sleep apnea. A physical examination will likely be performed, and your doctor will carefully look at the size of your neck and the shape of your mouth, nose and throat. They might also test for a condition known as GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, which gives them an indication as to whether you tend to breathe through your throat or mouth each time you’re sleeping.
In addition to these physical measures, your doctor may conduct a series of electrocardiogram (ECG) scans, which involve measuring the electrical activity of your heart and also analyzing the strength of your pulse. This can give them an indication as to whether or not you have an irregular heartbeat during sleep.
