Causes of Sleep Apnea Told by an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist
Many people do not know that an intricate web of tubes connects the ENT region (ear, nose, and throat region). When something goes wrong with one of these organs, it can often affect other parts. The connections between these organs are why otolaryngology is an important field of medicine. An ENT specialist in Singapore can help you get assistance for several diseases and conditions.
You may be surprised to note that the ENT may be responsible for many conditions in the head and neck. For example, problems like we may attribute vertigo to a problem with your inner ear. An otolaryngologist can help you fix it.
The ENT region may also cause sleeping problems. While not all sleeping problems stem from your ENT area, a sizeable number of conditions cause poorer sleep quality. For example, sinus problems can make breathing feel more painful and difficult. And when breathing becomes difficult, you may take hours to fall asleep. Some conditions go unnoticed unless you have a bed partner. Fatty tissues in the back of your throat vibrate and cause snoring. The noises you make during sleep can rouse your bed mate.
An ear, nose, and throat specialist provides treatment for several conditions, but sleep is one of the most important ones. No one should skip their sleep or mess with their sleeping habits.
Why is sleep so important?
As an adult, you need at least 7 hours of sleep to function. Younger people need even more sleep, at least 8 to 9 hours or more if they are younger. People who do not get adequate sleep may experience some unsavoury side effects of sleep deprivation. Some people get more irritable or frustrated, others may experience daytime grogginess. Most people feel weak after a bad night’s rest. Not getting enough sleep can spell disaster for your mental, emotional, and physical health.
But while getting enough sleep is important, getting ‘quality’ sleep matters as well. If you feel that you are still tired after resting for a full 7 hours, you might have a sleep problem. Sometimes things like sleepwalking, sleep talking, or snoring is not a laughing matter. They can be an indication of more severe health problems.
Do not forgo the need for an ENT specialist in Singapore simply because you think you can still function with very little sleep. Some people push their bodies to their limits because they think they feel less tired. Many adults still believe that rest is necessary whenever you feel like it. But you might exacerbate your health conditions by refusing to get enough sleep.
Why you should take sleep apnea seriously
Take sleep apnea, for example. Sleeping issues like sleep apnea can lead to worse conditions. The ENT region is also responsible for conditions like sleep apnea. When sleep apnea progresses, you can damage other parts of your head and neck. In some cases, sleep apnea can lead to heart problems, kidney failure, and other fatal cases.
Sleep apnea is defined as a condition wherein breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. While sleep apnea may sound like snoring, it is a serious medical issue that has lasting effects on internal organs and even your brain. Sleep apnea is caused by an excess layer of fatty soft tissues at the back of your throat that blocks your airways.
You struggle and wheeze to get air in your lungs, but the tissues block your airways. Over many months to years of your body failing to get enough oxygen, you might start to feel its effects like irritability, grogginess, headaches, and more.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, contact an ear, nose, and throat specialist right away. Your sleep apnea is due to blocked airways in your nose and throat, causing the sounds and difficulty in breathing.
The causes of sleep apnea
You need to contact a doctor if you believe you may have sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is disturbing your current sleeping patterns and habits, treatment can resolve the problem fairly quickly. You need to figure out what might be causing your sleep apnea so you can treat it reliably. With the help of a doctor, this will be easy.
Here are a few reasons why you may have this condition.
You can prevent sleep apnea if you do not go over a healthy weight. While people can come in many body types, obese people have higher risks of developing sleep apnea because of the excess tissue build-up in their throats. Obesity can thicken the tissues in your throat muscles and cause air blockage, leading to sleep apnea.
2) Thicker neck circumference
Curiously enough, people with thicker necks tend to have narrower airways. Narrower airways mean more chances of tissues in the back of the throat resting against your airways, leading to sleep apnea.
3) Other medical conditions
Your ENT specialist in Singapore will surely ask about your other medical conditions after noticing your sleep apnea. Medical issues like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes may increase your chances of sleep apnea, as they can affect the ENT area in other ways.
4) A family history
If you want to find out for yourself what your chances are of obtaining sleep apnea, you may look at your family tree for guidance. You might have relatives who have also had sleep apnea, snoring or other similar sleep conditions. If you have relatives who have them, you may have a higher likelihood of getting sleep apnea.
ENT Surgeons can help you seek relief for problems relating to your ENT region. Reach out to them to know more about how you can get a rhinoplasty in Singapore and other treatments to improve your quality of life.