Sleep apnea is a health condition that is commonly found in older adults. During sleep, breathing of a person may stop for 10 or more seconds. It usually occurs several times during the night. Usually, family members notice the symptoms as the person suffering from sleep apnea tends to feel consequences of the condition. Some people try to ignore the problem. However, this is very dangerous especially for older adults who may develop numerous disorders.
The Symptoms
At the same time, it is possible to identify a number of major symptoms: snoring, sleepiness during a day, a “dry throat” on waking, problems with memory, morning headaches, night sweats, irritability and an increased heart rate (“Sleep Apnea” n.p.).
Risk Factors
It is important to be specifically cautious for people who are male, older than 60, overweight, smoking, drinking, people having a thick neck, heart disease, neuromuscular disorders, cold and infections, and people having a relative suffering from sleep apnea.
Treatment
Luckily, there are numerous ways to treat this health condition. These ways include lifestyle changes, specific devices, and surgery. Of course, it is important to start with lifestyle changes. Males at the age of 60 should quit smoking and/or drinking, be active, have a healthy diet. They should also focus on their health and avoid infectious disorders. They should get the necessary treatment of heart diseases and neuromuscular disorders
Be attentive to yourself and live a full life!
Works Cited
Sleep Apnea. Web. 2015.