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Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air or feeling like you are choking during your sleep? If so, you may be experiencing one of the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Choking During Sleep – Introduction

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. These pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes and can occur multiple times during the night. As a result, the brain may not receive enough oxygen, leading to symptoms such as snoring, gasping for air, and choking.

When the airway becomes blocked during sleep, the muscles in the throat and tongue relax, causing them to collapse and obstruct the airway. This results in a lack of oxygen in the body and can lead to choking or gasping for air as the body tries to restart breathing.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes interruptions in breathing during sleep. This can occur when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, resulting in brief periods of cessation of breathing. This can occur multiple times per hour and can lead to significant oxygen deprivation.

Choking and gasping during sleep are common symptoms of sleep apnea, particularly in people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the most common form of the condition. OSA occurs when the airway becomes blocked or partially blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can cause a range of symptoms, and some of the most common include:

  • Loud snoring
  • Gasping or choking
  • Daytime fatigue
  • Morning headaches

Case Study – Choking During Sleep

John choking dring sleep

Consider the case of John, a 75-year-old man who had been experiencing choking and gasping for air at night for several months. He initially thought it was just a bad dream, but as it continued to happen, he became increasingly anxious and fearful of going to sleep. He also noticed that he was feeling excessively tired during the day, even after getting a full night’s sleep.

Eventually, John decided to consult with a doctor who ordered a sleep study, which revealed that he had moderate obstructive sleep apnea. John was prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and his symptoms improved significantly.

John no longer woke up gasping for air, and his daytime fatigue and anxiety also subsided.

Treatment Options for Choking During Sleep

There are several treatment options for sleep apnea, including lifestyle changes, oral appliances, surgery, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines.

You can find suppliers and sleep clinics in Pretoria and other main centers in South Africa that provide guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition, including Healthy Sleep and other local suppliers.

Contact us, or do an online search for your nearest service provider.

Your healthcare provider can help you determine which treatment option is best for you based on the severity of your sleep apnea and other factors.

Conclusion

Choking or gasping during sleep may be a symptom of sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder that can have serious health consequences if left untreated.

If you are experiencing these or other symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention. A sleep study can be conducted to diagnose sleep apnea, and treatment options can then be discussed with your healthcare provider. Don’t ignore the signs, as treating sleep apnea can improve your quality of life and prevent serious health problems.