So, I had to wear a pulse oximeter over the weekend and ended up back in Burnaby this morning to go over the data recorded by the machine. The final verdict is that I have a mild form of sleep apnea, which basically means that I stop breathing from time to time during the night, and it usually causes enough stress on my body to make me to wake up so that I can breathe.
Given that I’ve had high blood pressure most of my life, and that high blood pressure is often a symptom of sleep apnea, it’s possible that they are all related. For now, I’ll probably manage it conservatively, which means getting some exercise, dropping a few pounds, and sleeping on my side instead of my back. Given that it’s not severe, those will hopefully be enough. If not, there are other options for dealing with it, but for now I’ll just take it slow. At least there’s some comfort in knowing why I’m usually tired in the mornings.
Duane, once I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and was put on a CPAP machine, my entire outlook changed. Sleep became an actual restful experience instead of a futile struggle that left me tired and frustrated every morning. Good luck with the more moderate treatment, however in your shoes I would probably opt for the machine at some point.
Though it seems like a weird thing to have to strap a hose to your nostrils before going to bed, the benefits of decisively eliminating the problem are profound. I am still struggling with the issues that caused me to need this treatment to begin with, right now it’s worth it for my health, productivity, and sanity.
Hi Duane
My father was also diagnosed with sleep apnea and he was also advised to use the machine (mentioned before by Andy). Although it requires some getting used to, it really helps him. He is sleeping a lot better, and he feels way better.
Let’s hope for now that you can manage it with the exercises ,… Would be great! Good luck!