Signs you may need treatment for sleep apnea in San Francisco

Have you been told by your significant other or a loved one that you keep them up at night with your snoring? Do you wake up each day feeling like you did not get a great night’s sleep and are lethargic throughout the day? These are just a few symptoms that could point to you having sleep apnea. Dr. Jamil Alkhoury and his team at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of San Francisco are here to provide treatment for this very common issue.

Signs you may have sleep apnea

While sleep apnea is a commonly treated, it’s even more common for someone suffering from it to not realize that is the case. The most common first sign pointing to sleep apnea is a patient’s partner complaining to them that they were kept all up night by their snoring. Even if you don’t snore, you could still have sleep apnea. Some other easily noticed symptoms that could be noticed by another is if (during sleep) you experience choking, gasping, or a pause in breathing. Some additional signs you may be experiencing sleep apnea include:

• Daytime fatigue
• Sleeplessness
• Morning headaches
• Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth due to sleeping with your mouth open

Are you at risk?

There are several factors that could increase your likelihood of developing sleep apnea. One of the leading causes is being overweight/obese (you have a BMI of 25 or above), although it’s very important to be aware that sleep apnea can occur regardless of your weight. Another risk factor is the size of your neck. Anybody with a neck that is 17 inches in diameter, or more is at risk due to potential blockage of the airways by soft tissue that can occur with these larger necks.

Some other risk factors can include:

• Being male and/or middle-aged
• Having high blood pressure
• You have a family history of sleep apnea
• Physical features such as a recessed jaw
• Environmental factors including how much you exercise and your diet

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above, even if you don’t snore and are a healthy weight, you should give Dr. Jamil Alkhoury at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of San Francisco a call at 415-226-7274 to set up an appointment.

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