Sleep Apnea is often perceived as a passing problem of snoring. For a disorder as common as this, it surprising that not many people have the right knowledge of this condition. There are several myths about the disease that have been doing the rounds, for a very long time.
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It is just a case of loud snoring- Snoring is a part of Sleep Apnea and not the complete definition of it. If left untreated for a longer duration, it can result in health consequences like an increased risk of heart problems and fatigue, resulting in a loss of concentration and irritation.
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It is a condition of overweight people- Sleep Apnea is not exclusive to only obese or overweight people. In fact, the disease can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or weight. According to Korean Journal of Pediatrics, approximately 3% of children suffer from Sleep Apnea, which is often confused with ADHD.
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Sleeping in a lab is the only way to be diagnosed- It is due to this false belief that many people avoid getting their condition checked. They believe they will have to spend a night in a sleep laboratory to be diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. Contrary to this belief, Sleep Apnea can be diagnosed by multiple portable home tests, such as HST.
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No snoring means no Sleep Apnea- Snoring is one of the main indicator of Sleep Apnea, but is not a mandatory condition. There can be other symptoms to indicate the sleep disorder, even if the person might not snore. Waking up with a sore or dry throat, high blood pressure, morning headaches or daytime sleepiness are other such symptoms.