Why Sleep Apnea in Jupiter Makes You Feel So Tired

June 27, 2018

Many people have had the experience where they nap for a little bit and wake up feeling completely refreshed, while at other times, they awaken feeling groggier than when they laid down. This is because the body goes through a distinctive sleep cycle in which the brain engages in many kinds of activities, and each part is essential to helping a person feel completely rested and energized the next day. Sleep apnea in Jupiter, however, completely throws off this important cycle, which is why it leaves a person feeling exhausted every morning. How does this actually work? You can find out below!

How the Sleep Cycle is Supposed to Work

Within minutes of falling asleep, your brain quickly enters Stage One, which is a very light state of sleep where a person remains somewhat alert and can be easily awoken. This is the phase where people can take brief and indulgent “catnaps.”

Your brain then moves onto Stage Two, where it suddenly increases its activity, creating something called “sleep spindles” that can easily be seen on scans. Eventually, the waves slow down, and you enter Stage Three, which is the beginning of really deep sleep. At this point, you’ll be a little harder to wake up because the body becomes less responsive to stimuli. Stage Four is very similar, but this is when the body starts to repair the muscles and tissues, boost the immune system, and build up energy so you feel awake the next day.

Finally, you enter Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep, where your eyes actually jerk in all directions while being closed. This is when dreaming occurs! It’s also when the brain works to consolidate all of the information you’ve gathered during the day so it can be easily recalled later. It’s absolutely crucial to learning and memory. The average adult should go through about five to six complete sleep cycles each night so they can wake up feeling ready for the next day.

How Sleep Apnea Affects the Sleep Cycle

Sleep apnea is a condition where a person frequently experiences short lapses in breathing during sleep. As a result, the body has to partially wake up in order to restore proper oxygen flow, which means a person never reaches the deeper stages of sleep.

This is why people with sleep apnea feel so tired during the day and often have issues with memory and concentration. The brain constantly has to start the cycle over—it can’t simply start at Stage Two if a person is woken up at Stage One. It doesn’t have the opportunity to go through a complete cycle and perform the necessary restorative processes, so over time, a person’s overall health starts to slowly deteriorate.

How to Get Help for Sleep Apnea

If you can’t seem to get enough sleep or constantly find yourself waking up in the middle of the night out of breath, your next call should be to your doctor. They may recommend that you visit a sleep doctor in order to get a proper diagnosis for your symptoms. If you do end up having sleep apnea, you can then work with your doctors to find the right treatment. This may consist of wearing a CPAP machine to bed, using an oral appliance, or getting corrective surgery.

All in all, each stage of the sleep cycle is extremely important, and nobody can live a healthy life if they aren’t getting enough of each one every night. If chronic exhaustion, memory issues, and concentration problems are common for you, be sure to call your doctor and ask about sleep apnea today, and they’ll help you get the sleep you need in no time.

About the Author

As a certified sleep dentist with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Kenneth Mogell has helped countless people with custom-made sleep apnea treatment in Jupiter. If you believe that you or a loved one may be suffering from this condition, he invites you to contact him today for more information.