More Americans suffering from sleep apnea
Around 22 million Americans suffer from a condition known as sleep apnea, and many of them do not know they have it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Americans work more than any other industrialized country in the world.
We are constantly checking our phones, working later, and even showing up to our desks on weekends.
For women especially, this overachieving mentality can lead to nodding off and fighting sleep at work and at home.
“Its called excessive daytime sleepiness related to sleep apnea, when you’re constantly falling asleep every day,” says Beth Battaglino, CEO of HealthyWomen.
Doctors say it is a condition that can affect both men and women, but women are more likely to have this condition since they are more likely to associate it with tiredness from taking care of everyday duties of being a mother.
“Repeatedly throughout the night a person is having pauses in their breathing, that impacts their ability to have oxygen in their brain, and if their brain struggles to do that, you wake up and don’t feel rested and restored, ” says Dr. Charlene Gamaldo, Neurologist and Sleep Specialist at Johns Hopkins Center.
According to Mayoclinic, some treatment options include:
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, you might benefit from using a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask while you sleep.
Other airway pressure devices. If using a CPAP machine continues to be a problem for you, you might be able to use a different type of airway pressure device that automatically adjusts the pressure while you’re sleeping (auto-CPAP).
Tissue removal. During this procedure (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), your doctor removes tissue from the rear of your mouth and top of your throat. Your tonsils and adenoids usually are removed as well.
