If you wake up feeling exhausted and restless, even after a full night’s sleep, there may be a sleep disorder affecting you. There are a few different types of sleep disorders that you may be struggling with and it’s important to be able to tell the differences between two common sleep disorders: narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Your sleep doctors at Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, can explain some of the differences between sleep apnea and narcolepsy and help you find out what is affecting your sleep.

What is Sleep Apnea?

There are different types of sleep apnea that your doctors in Columbia, SC, can help you with, but they all occur when there are pauses in a person’s breathing as they sleep. Snoring is also commonly associated with sleep apnea and can be a big sign of sleep apnea. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, and this occurs when the muscles relax and your tongue blocks the back of your throat.

This causes you to have issues breathing and affects the flow of air. You may wake up with a dry mouth or a headache in the morning and might feel exhausted throughout the day. You may feel irritable and unrested throughout the day and may have a hard time concentrating.

What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy differs from sleep apnea because the breathing isn’t affected, your sleep cycle is. With narcolepsy, your body may skip some of the steps in a sleep cycle and you might end up feeling exhausted and sleepy throughout the day. It can cause hallucinations and sleep paralysis as well as the loss of control over the muscles. It can be difficult to function in your daily life and can affect your life because you have less control over your sleep.

Contact Your Sleep Doctor Today!

To learn more about the differences between narcolepsy and sleep apnea, talk to your sleep doctor today. Contact your doctors at Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, to learn more about sleep apnea and narcolepsy. Call today at (803) 251-3093.