Do you snore while you sleep? Do you wake up feeling tired, even though you went to sleep early? If so, you might have sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea is a sleep condition where a person starts and stops breathing. It’s a fairly common condition that can be treated.

Worried you might have sleep apnea? Here’s what you should know.

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, you may have sleep apnea:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Sleepy during the day

How is sleep apnea diagnosed

You’ll likely be referred to a sleep study center where a specialist can run some tests. Usually, a sleep center asks a patient to come into the center and sleep there so they can be monitored.

In some cases, the sleep specialist may be able to give you an at-home sleep study. This kind of test includes a kit that monitors heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow, and breathing problems.

If a sleep specialist does diagnose you with sleep apnea, there are treatments. The most common treatment is a continuous positive airway pressure machine or a CPAP machine.

The person with sleep apnea wears a mask to sleep, which pushes just enough air to keep air passages open. With airways open, you can sleep soundly.

While there are other treatments, experts say the CPAP machine is the most effective option. If, however, a CPAP machine doesn’t work, surgery is an option.

During surgery, tissue can be removed that’s blocking airways, or if needed, the jaw bone can be repositioned to help alleviate the problem. Obviously, surgery is more invasive, which is why most sleep exerts opt for a CPAP machine or another oral device.