Doctors give advice for treating and diagnosing sleep apnea [Video]

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Sleep apnea affects millions of Americans, and many may not know they have it. That’s why it’s important to know signs and symptoms, and make sure you’re getting treated if you have it.

Sleep apnea is a disorder where your body isn’t getting oxygen at night, whether it be from an obstruction by your tongue or throat, or by stopping breathing during sleep.

“When the air cannot pass through the obstruction, that means the air doesn’t go into the lungs, and as a result of that, you don’t get oxygen to the lungs either. That chronically oxygen deprived state essentially increases risk of a few more comorbidities,” said Dr. Rutwik Patel, pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine physician at CoxHealth.

Sleep apnea can cause a whole host of issues for a person, and increase your risks for other diseases.

“The chronic state of stress essentially, along …