Explaining Sleep Apnea to Others

Your family and friends might have a lot of questions about your sleep apnea as they try to understand what it’s all about. Here are a few common questions that they may ask you and how you can answer them.

Some sleep apnea FAQs

Is it painful?

No. Sleep apnea doesn’t cause physical pain. When you have sleep apnea, you tend to be tired most of the time unless you’re receiving sleep therapy. If you use therapy options such as a CPAP machine this can give you most of your energy back.

You may still feel tired some of the time, but CPAP therapy is a huge improvement from how you feel if you don’t undergo therapy and try to live with sleep apnea.

Are you on medication for it?

Most patients won’t take any sort of medication to treat issues with sleep apnea. If you have other medical issues or sleep problems, then you may be prescribed certain medications to deal with those conditions.

Sleep apnea often requires the use of a CPAP machine which opens up your airway at night using extra airflow. This allows you to sleep better and get the rest you need to function at your best.

How can I tell if someone has sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea requires a test that a person has to take to diagnose the condition, but there are some big warning signs that someone may have sleep apnea.

If you’re tired all the time even if you sleep eight hours a night, this may be sleeping apnea. The condition can cause extreme fatigue because you’re not getting the rest you need. If you snore loudly at night and this is consistent, then it may be apnea related. Other symptoms may include a sore throat the next morning or headaches the next day.

Is there anything I can do to help you?

Sleep apnea patients need support from their loved ones. It can be quite traumatic in the early stages of treatment because to can take time to get used to a CPAP mask or other therapy.

Apnea patents may feel cranky if they aren’t receiving treatment due to lack of sleep, Depression and anxiety can be common. If you have a family member with apnea, you nee dot give them your support and have patience with hem as they learn to manage this condition.

Is sleep apnea serious?

Untreated sleep apnea is serious because it interrupts your sleep which we know is vital to good health. With proper treatment, a patient can get the rest they need, and this limits how sleep apnea impacts the body. Untreated apnea can but you at higher risk for a whole host of serious health problems.

Conclusion

A person with sleep apnea needs a lot of support from friends and family. It can take time for your lived one to get used to sleep therapy such as CPAP. You can expect someone that suffers from sleep apnea to feel tired most of the time until they get the proper therapy they need to feel better. Have patience and offer plenty of encouragement.