There are so many symtoms of sleep apnea that can be attributed to other medical conditions that sometimes the sleeping order can be very difficult to diagnose. For example, some of the more common symtoms include depression, anxiety and mood swings. These can be attributed to almost anything, from premenstrual syndrome to bipolar disorder. When misdiagnosed, the patient can end up on a slew of antidepressant prescriptions that will treat the symtoms, but do nothing to effect the root cause. As a result, the sleep apnea can go untreated for years, causing serious damage to the heart that can manifest itself as a massive heart attack.
Other symtoms of sleep apnea may seem minor. So much so, in fact, that you won’t think twice about them. Many people, for instance, wouldn’t think twice about a decrease in sex drive or increased frequency of urination. Heavy sweating at night could be attributed to night terrors or a hotter than normal room temperature. Adding to the confusion, you can’t rule out the symptoms because of the age, sex or race of the person who is experiencing them. Sleep apnea can affect anyone and everyone, and does so indiscriminately. So, how does one know if they have sleep apnea or not?
The only way to find out for sure if what you’re experiencing are symtoms of sleep apnea is to see your doctor and get some tests done. Of course, it’s much easier to diagnose (and treatment comes much faster) when you’ve got a bedmate who can attest to a lapse in your breathing at night. Depending on your age, your doctor may prescribe a regimen of drugs or even surgery. The good thing is that sleep apnea can be cured, and it does not have to be a death sentence if caught early enough.