May
09
2010
Is sleep apnea common with normal people?
Posted by: Alan in Obstructive Sleep Apnea, tags: Apnea., Common, Normal, People, Sleep
I’ve woken up 3 times in my life because I have stopped breathing in my sleep (not recently) which was scary. The first time was when I was around 16, and the other two times were two years apart after that. I was just wondering if its normal for everyone to have this happen to them once or twice in their lives, since I’m not overweight or have any normal risk factors to have this happen. Thanks!
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May 9th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
It is not necessary that waking up from sleep gasping for breath surely means you had an attack of sleep apnea. It can be a nightmare too. Sometimes, having nightmares can also lead to “apnea” and make you short of breath. This is true that sleep apnea can develop in any one who is overweight, but some normal weight people too can have sleep apnea due to the structural problems in their throat or anywhere in the respiratory tract.
I will suggest you to better consult your doctor and discuss your situation with him/her to be on the safer side.
Take care..
May 9th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Hello Belle,
I almost wanted to give you a good news, but then I’m thinking that I know almost nothing about your symptoms.
Here is a tip for you: if you feel very tired during the day, falling asleep at work, at movies, while driving, and if you stop breathing in your sleep…then you should consider you have sleep apnea.
A person with sleep apnea disorder has apnea events (when he stops breathing in sleep) in every night, not only one time per year. And if he doesn’t take a treatment for his sleep disorder, then his symptoms will worsen over time.
Bottom line..I think you don’t have sleep apnea. But if you are very drowsy every day, then I will think again…
I hope it helps.