Sleep apnea is pretty common, though the severity of cases ranges from a mild inconvenience to life-threatening.  There are a range of ways to treat sleep apnea, such as with BiPAP therapy or CPAP equipment.  But first, you have to figure out whether you have sleep apnea — and how do you do that?

Usually, the best way to detect sleep apnea is to have someone nearby when you are sleeping.  A husband or wife would be in a position to hear you breathe during sleep on a regular basis, but you could also have a friend "sleep over" and check on you.  A tape recorder might also suffice.  If all else fails, there are also many sleep studies that you can participate in to find out whether you have sleep apnea.

You might have reason to suspect sleep apnea if you have any of the following symptoms:

1. Unexplained tiredness during the day
2. Falling asleep for no apparent reason and at odd times during the day
3. Difficulty concentrating on mental tasks, learning, or remembering things
4. Depression
5. Irritability
6. Sexual dysfunction

If you have been told that you snore, or if you are overweight, you should also know that these conditions could contribute to sleep apnea.

If you find that you do have sleep apnea, don’t worry — there are things you can do to make sure you get enough sleep and reverse the effects listed above.  A sleep apnea mask, for example, is a mask that covers your face and keeps your airways open by creating a constant, but light, flow of air.

The bottom line is, if you think you might have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor.  You’ll be surprised how much better you will feel once your sleep is no longer being disrupted all the time!

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