8 Signs You Might Have Sleep Apnea

Restful, restorative sleep is one of your body’s most important functions. Sleep apnea interferes by causing you to stop breathing repeatedly through the night. As a result, your cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being can suffer. 

At BP Royal Medspa in Henderson, Nevada, board-certified registered nurse Barbara (“Barbie”) Rodriguez and her expert team use NightLase® laser technology to reduce sleep apnea symptoms and improve your overall health.

If you haven’t been feeling like yourself lately and wonder if sleep apnea is to blame, consider the following facts and symptoms.

Sleep apnea types

All kinds of sleep apnea interfere with sleep, but they do so in different ways. The three main types include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Relaxed throat muscles block air flow into your lungs
• Central sleep apnea (CSA): Your brain doesn't properly communicate with muscles that control your breathing
• Complex sleep apnea: You have OSA that turns into CSA 

OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea, affecting at least 1 billion people around the world.

Common signs of sleep apnea

Not all sleep apnea symptoms are obvious, especially since the primary ones take place when you’re asleep. But they all stem from limited and poor-quality sleep. 

Especially common sleep apnea signs include:

1. Gasping for air during sleep
2. Loud snoring  (which you or a loved one may notice)
3. Waking up repeatedly
4. Waking up with a dry mouth
5. Morning headaches
6. Daytime exhaustion or fatigue
7. Irritable moods
8. Difficulty concentrating

Over time, untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious complications, such as anxiety, depression, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and a heightened risk for car accidents. 

Because sleep loss interferes with appetite control and your metabolism, sleep apnea is linked with obesity as well. In other words, weight gain is a sleep apnea sign for some people. On the flip side, excess weight increases your likelihood of developing sleep apnea to begin with.

How NightLase laser technology helps

Thankfully, effective sleep apnea treatment can restore normal breathing. Fotona NightLase technology is an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) appliances, which many people find cumbersome.

During your treatment, targeted laser energy heats affected tissue in your throat to increase your airway size and reduce snoring. Treatment typically involves three laser sessions over the course of six weeks. Your results may last for up to a year.

To learn more or find out if you’re a candidate for laser sleep apnea treatment, call BP Royal Medspa or request an appointment through our website today. Our team can also walk you through helpful lifestyle changes, such as improved exercise and sleep habits.