5 surprising signs of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea testing Bothell area

Sleep apnea is a fairly common problem, and many sufferers are not even aware that they have this condition. Some of the potential signs of sleep apnea are easier to recognize. For example, people with sleep apnea usually feel tired during the day even if they spent enough hours in bed, and they may snore and/or wake up gasping from sleep.

However, some of the possible signs of sleep apnea may be a little more surprising. Here are 5 possible signs of sleep apnea that many people don’t initially recognize as related to their sleep.

High blood pressure

While high blood pressure is extremely common and is not always related to sleep apnea, it’s also true that sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure. People who take medication for their blood pressure but still have trouble controlling it should be tested for sleep apnea as a possible cause of or contributor to their high blood pressure.

Drooling

Those who wake up from sleep to find a pool of saliva on their pillow are seeing the evidence that they breathe through the mouth at night. This is a natural reaction of the nervous system when the airway is blocked. The body will breathe through the mouth in order to get enough air. If you find drool on your pillow when you awaken, it may be worth getting tested for sleep apnea.

Teeth grinding

Grinding the teeth at night is another natural reaction of the nervous system when breathing is interrupted. Grinding the teeth keeps the lower jaw from falling backward into the airway and blocking it. If you wake up with sore or stiff jaw muscles, then you might be grinding your teeth at night. If this is a chronic issue, then getting tested for sleep apnea may be a good idea for you.

Depression

Like with high blood pressure, this is a very common problem and can have a variety of causes. However, it’s very clear that the lack of restful sleep caused by sleep apnea can cause or contribute to depression. If you experience depression and treatment isn’t working, or if you have any other signs of sleep apnea, then a sleep apnea test might be worthwhile.

Frequently urinating at night

This condition, called nocturia, can also be caused by a number of different factors. Research indicates that sleep apnea can lead to nocturia. This is because the lack of restful sleep inhibits the production of a hormone known as anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), which normally prevents people from urinating at night. Without the hormone, you continue to create urine at night and you will more frequently need to get up to go to the bathroom.

Sleep apnea testing Bothell area

If you have any of the signs of sleep apnea, including the ones listed here, we encourage you to be tested for sleep apnea. Treatment, which usually involves either an oral device or a CPAP machine, can help to reduce the impact of sleep apnea on your life as well as the risk of a number of serious chronic health conditions.

For those seeking sleep apnea testing Bothell and the surrounding area, Dr. Mulliken offers a convenient home sleep test. As one of the few certified sleep dentists in the area, he can also offer you treatment with a convenient and comfortable oral device if you do have the condition and are a candidate for this form of treatment. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Mulliken, simply contact our office.