It is natural to experience some tiredness at different times of the day. Our natural circadian rhythm plays a large role in that, particularly that sluggish, groggy feeling you get in the late morning and again in the late afternoon. However, if you are always feeling exhausted, chances are you are not getting enough REM (rapid eye movement) sleep at night, and this can lead to a myriad of health issues, including illness and depression.
Sleep Deprivation
As we mentioned in Are You Always Exhausted? Well, You Shouldn’t Be…Installment 1, snoring is caused by the fatty tissues in your throat and the back of your mouth. When you sleep, they relax and partially block your airway, and as air passes through, they rattle causing the snoring sound. However, sleep apnea is much more serious than snoring. The fatty tissues completely block your airway during sleep apnea, and cause you to stop breathing. As a result, your brain wakes you. This can happen over 100 times in one hour, which prevents you from ever reaching the sleep you most need, which is REM sleep. These micro-awakenings are so short you don’t even realize they are happening. When you are consistently deprived of REM sleep it can lead to health issues such as:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- And more
Daytime Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below throughout each day, you may be suffering from sleep apnea:
- Exhaustion
- Falling asleep
- Lack of concentration
- Decreased reaction rates
- Irritability
- Short temper
- Memory problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
Do You Think You May Be Suffering From Sleep Apnea?
If you are exhibiting any of the above problems during the day, or falling asleep while driving, don’t wait until an accident happens! Schedule an appointment with your sleep doctors at Modern Dentistry of Shrewsbury in Shrewsbury, MA, today by calling (508) 842-8838. We proudly serve patients from Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities.
