It’s the holidays, which means you’ll be seeing family members you haven’t seen in a while. This is also the time of year when you may start to notice health changes in your elderly relatives. One condition that becomes more common as we age is sleep apnea. Today, we’re going to address how you can identify if your older loved one should be tested for it:
- Snoring – This, being one of the most common symptoms, is one to keep your eye out for. It is especially concerning when your snoring becomes so loud it disrupts you or others, or when it is spaced out between a long period of silence.
- Physical and mental exhaustion – Sleep apnea causes your sleeping pattern to become sporadic and unfulfilling which eventually begins affecting your waking life as well. This can further lead to a lack of attention and difficulty performing everyday tasks.
- Changes in mood – Since those with sleep apnea are not getting the proper rest they need, it is possible to experience mood swings. Those affected can be more easily irritated and have heightened aggression. The lack of sleep may also cause those affected to feel anxious, sad, and at times depressed.
- Waking Up Frequently- Those with sleep apnea will often have their rest interrupted frequently. Waking up happens abruptly and is accompanied at times by shortness of breath.
Although these are all great signs to point you in the right direction, not everyone afflicted by sleep apnea will display these symptoms. Seniors who already suffer from problems with their heart and central nervous system have a higher risk of developing central sleep apnea, another variety of senior sleep apnea that largely affects those over age 50.
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnea, seek treatment immediately with your physician. CPAP Central can also help. We can supply your loved one with everything they need to address this condition.