Snoring is not the only sign that you may be experiencing sleep apnea. Other indications are more subtle and may be attributed to other causes. If any of the following is happening, talking with your doctor about them may lead to testing and the need to undergo a sleep apnea treatment.
Changes in Mood and Temperament
A lack of sleep may cause you to feel more on edge than usual. This may escalate to the point that you experience panic attacks. There’s also the potential to develop mild to moderate depression.
Those recent bouts of irritation may have more to do with poor sleep than with the actions of others. If you find yourself increasingly impatient about things that normally don’t matter at all, it pays to undergo a sleep test and see if you need some type of treatment.
High Blood Glucose Levels in the Morning
People who live with type 2 diabetes understand the damage that high glucose levels can trigger. If you monitor your diet, exercise regularly, and take medication as directed, your levels are generally under control.
The exception is first thing in the morning. If sleep issues are present, those levels are likely to be higher. Since they should generally be lower during this time of day, high glucose is a sign that you do need a sleep test.
Difficulty Concentrating
While distractions can happen to anyone, you normally find it easy to focus on the task at hand and get things done. That’s not the way the day has gone recently. It’s increasingly difficult to concentrate on what needs your attention. This is true even with simple tasks that you usually do without having to think about them.
This is not necessarily a sign that you’re getting older. A more likely scenario is that you’re not getting truly recuperative sleep. If testing confirms that is the case, opting for the sleep apnea treatment recommended by your doctor will help get things back on track. Think of what that will mean in terms of taking care of tasks around the house as well as at work.
Trouble With Your Memory
There’s another change that you may be attributed to advancing years: difficulty remembering simple things like the names of people you’ve known for a long time. The same is true if you momentarily find yourself forgetting to take a turn on the way to work or while driving home. Along with being frustrating, not being able to remember basic information can lead you to think that something is seriously wrong with your mental capacity.
A lack of quality sleep can be the reason for those temporary lapses. Once you have a diagnosis and being the treatment, the difference will be noticeable in a matter of days. It will be subtle at first, but it won’t be long before remembering little things is easy again.
Remember that the quality of sleep has more of an impact on well-being than many people realize. Don’t assume that what you are experiencing is normal. See a doctor, arrange for a sleep test, and be prepared to discuss the treatment options. Feeling better and enjoying life more may be easier to do than you thought possible.
