Snoring may seem harmless (if somewhat annoying), but it's actually a sign of sleep apnea in millions of people. Sleep apnea is a common, but often neglected, condition that causes breathing to stop and resume during sleep. These pauses may last for a few seconds or longer, and repeat several times a night, negatively affecting sleep and reducing oxygen levels in the body.
This may make you feel tired during the day and affect your overall health. The good news is that sleep apnea is treatable. Knowing the signs is the first step to getting help and enjoying better sleep, according to a report by the American Tufts Foundation of Medicine.
Dr. Meena Mehta, a sleep medicine expert at Tufts University, shares the symptoms of this common, but potentially dangerous, sleep disorder, its health risks, and treatment options.
What are the types of sleep apnea?
There are 3 main types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This is the most common type. It occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat relax excessively during sleep, blocking the airway. The person wakes up briefly - often without realizing it - to reopen the airway.
Central sleep apnea (CSA): This is less common. It occurs when the brain does not send the correct signals to the muscles that control breathing, causing breathing to stop for short periods.
Mixed (combined) sleep apnea: This is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Symptoms of sleep apnea may include: loud or frequent snoring, choking or gasping sounds during sleep, pauses in breathing during sleep, as well as waking up tired or lethargic, daytime sleepiness or fatigue, morning headache, confusion or difficulty concentrating, irritability or mood swings, and waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat.
Is sleep apnea dangerous if untreated?
Yes. If left untreated, sleep apnea may increase your risk of: high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression or mood disorders, memory problems and confusion, a weakened immune system, daytime sleepiness and accidents.
Is snoring always a sign of sleep apnea?
Not always. Snoring is common, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, loud or frequent snoring, especially one accompanied by choking or gasping sounds, should be checked.
What are the causes of sleep apnea?
This varies depending on the type:
Causes of obstructive sleep apnea: weight gain, enlarged tonsils, thick neck, aging, drinking alcohol or sedatives, smoking, nasal congestion, or a family history of the disease.
Causes of central sleep apnea: heart disease, stroke, certain medications (especially narcotics), and aging.
How is it diagnosed?
A polysomnography is used to diagnose sleep apnea. It can be performed in a specialized laboratory or at home using a monitoring device.
How is sleep apnea treated?
Treatment depends on the type and severity of sleep apnea and may include the following: lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or avoiding alcohol and sedatives, sleeping on the side instead of the back, treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to keep the airway open during sleep, and use of oral appliances to help keep the airway open. If you snore a lot, feel tired during the day, or notice pauses in your (or your partner's) breathing at night, see your doctor. Sleep apnea is common and easily treated. The sooner you seek help, the better you'll sleep and feel.
Some people are accustomed to taking pain relievers in large quantities, without paying attention to the extent of the health risks that they may be exposed to after a long period of use.
Do painkillers affect the stomach?
The results of some studies have shown that some types of analgesics; Especially ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, they can negatively affect stomach health. Especially if taken in large quantities and high doses; It may cause irritation, ulcers, or bleeding when used excessively.
Symptoms of stomach injuries caused by painkillers
Taking a lot of painkillers may cause stomach problems, including:
Blood in stool.
Blood in vomit.
Feeling of burning in the stomach or back.
diarrhea.
Heartburn.
Stomach pain.
Black stool.
Pain in the upper abdomen.
Nausea.
Feeling tired.
pallor.
Sweating.
How to stop stomach pain after taking painkillers
If you already suffer from pain and discomfort, experiencing more pain after taking painkillers can be very uncomfortable. There are some things you can do, including:
, including:
Do not take too many painkillers frequently
To avoid abdominal pain when taking painkillers, you must first ensure that you carefully follow the recommended dosage. Do not take an overdose, do not double the dose, do not take more than one type of it at the same time, and take it for the shortest possible time.
Do not take painkillers on an empty stomach
Taking painkillers on an empty stomach may cause stomach pain or upset. To avoid this, try taking it with food and a glass of water to relieve stomach pain.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
Taking painkillers while smoking or drinking alcohol may increase your risk of stomach pain. Try to quit smoking and refrain from drinking alcohol while taking medications.
Vary the time of day you take it
If you feel stomach pain after taking painkillers in the morning, try taking them in the afternoon, and vice versa.
Also, consult a doctor if you suffer from an ulcer or any stomach problem. Gentle painkillers for the stomach, such as paracetamol, can be used, but the recommended dose should not be exceeded.
Drinking coffee is associated with many health benefits, from protecting liver health to reducing the risk of heart disease. However, some may decide to stop drinking coffee suddenly due to harmful side effects, health concerns such as heart arrhythmia, fasting, or simply for personal reasons.
Unfortunately, suddenly stopping drinking caffeinated coffee may lead to caffeine withdrawal and some uncomfortable symptoms. Here is what happens when you suddenly stop drinking coffee, according to the health magazine “Health”.
Suddenly quitting coffee
Caffeine is the main active compound in coffee, and is responsible for many of its benefits, including its effect on energy levels and cognitive functions. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, meaning it affects neural activity in the brain to promote alertness.
Caffeine increases alertness by inhibiting the brain's adenosine receptors, a neurotransmitter that builds up in the brain during the day to help make you feel sleepy as bedtime approaches.
Drinking coffee regularly causes the brain to produce more adenosine receptors to counterbalance the inhibition mechanism of caffeine. Therefore, when caffeine intake is suddenly stopped, adenosine flows into the brain, causing it to bind to adenosine receptors, causing a group of symptoms known as caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
This is what happens during the first week of stopping drinking coffee:
The first and second days: The peak of withdrawal symptoms, you feel a headache, as the size of the blood vessels changes when you stop consuming caffeine, which often causes a throbbing pain in the head. So is extreme fatigue as stored sleep signals, called adenosine, flow to your brain because they are no longer blocked by caffeine. You may feel mentally confused, as you may feel low motivation, lethargy, and difficulty concentrating.
Day 3 to 5: You may feel irritable and have mood swings, and you may feel upset, anxious, or sad as your dopamine levels adjust. You also feel a decrease in cravings, as physical cravings begin to fade by the fifth day for most people. You will feel changes in your digestive system, as the movement of your stomach and intestines may change temporarily or slow down. From the sixth to seventh day: You will feel earlier rest and better sleep quality, as deep sleep improves because natural adenosine and natural melatonin rhythms take over without the intervention of caffeine.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
In general, it is a condition that occurs when a person who habitually consumes caffeine suddenly stops or significantly reduces his intake. When this happens, caffeine levels in the blood drop sharply, leading to symptoms such as fatigue and headaches.
Physical and psychological symptoms
When caffeine levels suddenly drop, the body goes through caffeine withdrawal, which may lead to the following symptoms:
Headache
Caffeine causes vasoconstriction, which is the medical term for narrowing of the blood vessels. When you stop consuming caffeine, increased blood flow to the brain may cause headaches. People with a history of chronic migraines may experience particularly severe headaches after suddenly stopping caffeine intake.
Exhaustion
Suddenly stopping caffeine intake increases the activity of adenosine, which is the hormone responsible for feeling sleepy towards the end of the day.
This sudden increase in adenosine level when you stop consuming caffeine can lead to feelings of extreme fatigue. For this reason, many people feel tired after suddenly stopping drinking caffeinated coffee.
Mood changes
Abruptly stopping drinking caffeinated coffee may cause temporary changes in mood, including increased nervousness and even feelings of depression.
These symptoms result from a change in neural activity in response to a sudden drop in caffeine, as well as a decrease in the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that improves mood. Some may also feel an increase in anxiety and stress when they stop drinking coffee.
Other symptoms
Although rare, some people who stop drinking caffeinated coffee may experience nausea, vomiting, and muscle pain and stiffness. These symptoms may feel like you have the flu, but they are related to a sudden drop in the level of caffeine in your body.
How long do caffeine withdrawal symptoms last?
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are annoying, but fortunately, they don't last long. It usually begins within 12 to 24 hours of stopping caffeine intake, and peaks within one to two days. This means you can expect the worst symptoms to appear after 24-48 hours.
All caffeine withdrawal symptoms disappear within a week. This happens as your body and brain adapt to the absence of caffeine.
A better way to reduce coffee consumption
If you want to stop drinking caffeinated coffee or reduce your consumption, it is best to do so gradually. This is especially important if you drink large amounts of caffeinated coffee for a long period.
To reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms, health care providers recommend reducing your caffeine consumption gradually, such as reducing it by 25 percent or less every few days.
Gradual reduction allows your body to adapt to smaller amounts of caffeine before stopping it completely.
