Do I have sleep apnea? Or maybe something else?

Question

I am 19 years old, average height & weight. When I lay down, I am sleeping withing 2 minutes, never wake up before my alarm clock, always tired, can't ever remember a time when I couldn't sleep or fall asleep, have headaches occasionally in the mornings. I do smoke about 10 a day, don't drink often at all. I had my tonsils removed about a year ago and my throat has stopped getting sore but that's about it. I just wish I could wake up ONE day feeling refreshed and ready for the day. It hasn't happened in years...whats wrong with me?!?!

Answer 1

The only way to truly know if you have sleep apnea is to ask your doctor to sign you up for a sleep study... you stay over night in a "bedroom" kind of lab where they hook electrodes to you and basically watch you sleep.... What sleep apnea is ---is that your breathing actually STOPS while sleeping... and you wake up and begin to breath again... HOWEVER, it happens so quickly that you don't even REALIZE sometimes that you have woken up and can wake up from a few times to over 30 times a night... this interrupted sleep pattern caused by sleep apnea COULD be a reason why you are so tired when you wake in the morning.... I knew for YEARS that I stopped breathing when I slept but did NOTHING about it.... NOW, due in PART to my continual sleep apnea, I have recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure AND pulmonary hypertension (both eventually fatal illnesses)... Sleep Apnea CAN be treated.... I must wear a mask attached to a machine that pumps air into my lungs even IF I stop breathing...I am able to get a MUCH fuller and more restful sleep ALTHOUGH I still wake up 2 times a night now...

Answer 2

No Hon, the symptoms you mention have nothing to do with sleep apnea. Apnea in Greek literally means " without breath." Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder and what it is with not being able to breath while sleeping causing you to wake up therefore not getting a good night sleep! While one of the symptoms are headaches there are all kinds of reason why you might be having headaches..Well, I hope this helps you...

Answer 3

10 tips for better sleep
If you're having trouble sleeping, change your sleep habits for a better night's rest.

Feeling crabby lately? It could be you aren't getting enough sleep. Work, household responsibilities and child care can make sleep difficult to come by. Factor in other unexpected challenges such as financial worries, layoffs, relationship issues or an illness, and quality sleep may be even more elusive.

You may not be able to control or eliminate all of the factors that interfere with your sleep, but you can create an environment and adopt habits that encourage a more restful night. Try these suggestions if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep:

Go to bed and get up at about the same time every day, even on the weekends. Sticking to a schedule helps reinforce your body's sleep-wake cycle and can help you fall asleep better at night.

Don't eat or drink large amounts before bedtime. Eat a light dinner about two hours before sleeping. If you're prone to heartburn, avoid spicy or fatty foods, which can make your heartburn flare and prevent a restful sleep. Also, limit how much you drink before bed. Too much liquid can cause you to wake up repeatedly during the night for trips to the bathroom.


Avoid nicotine, caffeine and alcohol in the evening. These are stimulants that can keep you awake. Smokers often experience withdrawal symptoms at night, and smoking in bed is dangerous. I think this is your main problem as you are only 19. Sleep apnea is more common in obese persons.


Avoid caffeine for eight hours before your planned bedtime. Your body doesn't store caffeine, but it takes many hours to eliminate the stimulant and its effects. And although often believed to be a sedative, alcohol actually disrupts sleep.


Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, can help you fall asleep faster and make your sleep more restful. Don't exercise within three hours of your bedtime, however. Exercising right before bed may make getting to sleep more difficult.


Make your bedroom cool, dark, quiet and comfortable. Create a room that's ideal for sleeping. Adjust the lighting, temperature, humidity and noise level to your preferences. Use blackout curtains, eye covers, earplugs, extra blankets, a fan, a humidifier or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs.


Sleep primarily at night. Daytime naps may steal hours from nighttime slumber. Limit daytime sleep to about a half-hour and make it during midafternoon.

If you work nights, keep your window coverings closed so that sunlight, which adjusts the body's internal clock, doesn't interrupt your sleep. If you have a day job and sleep at night, but still have trouble waking up, leave the window coverings open and let the sunlight help wake you up.

Choose a comfortable mattress and pillow. Features of a good bed are subjective and differ for each person. But make sure you have a bed that's comfortable. If you share your bed, make sure there's enough room for two. Children and pets are often disruptive, so you may need to set limits on how often they sleep in bed with you.

Start a relaxing bedtime routine. Do the same things each night to tell your body it's time to wind down. This may include taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book, or listening to soothing music. Relaxing activities done with lowered lights can help ease the transition between wakefulness and sleepiness.

Go to bed when you're tired and turn out the lights. If you don't fall asleep within 15 to 20 minutes, get up and do something else. Go back to bed when you're tired. Don't agonize over falling asleep. The stress will only prevent sleep.

Use sleeping pills only as a last resort. Check with your doctor before taking any sleep medications. He or she can make sure the pills won't interact with your other medications or with an existing medical condition. Your doctor can also help you determine the best dosage. If you do take a sleep medication, reduce the dosage gradually when you want to quit, and never mix alcohol and sleeping pills. If you feel sleepy or dizzy during the day, talk to your doctor about changing the dosage or discontinuing the pills.

If you're having problems sleeping more than three times a week for a month's time, see your doctor. You could have a sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. Identifying and treating the cause of your sleep disturbance can help get you back on the road to a good night's sleep. Your bouts of waking up "feeling not refreshed" and the resulting headaches are probably due to the lack of quality sleep.