Are You Suffering From Low Testosterone Levels Or Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that causes you to have difficult breathing while sleeping at night. Your airways become blocked, which causes you to stop breathing. In some cases, this can occur hundreds of times throughout one night of sleep. As if that wasn't bad enough, it gets worse. Sleep apnea is often misdiagnosed, and for men, it can be diagnosed as having low testosterone. Read on to learn more about the similarities between low testosterone and sleep apnea and how it can negatively affect your life.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone Levels

Doctors use symptoms to make a diagnosis when a patient comes to see them. Many men who go to the doctor with daytime drowsiness and fatigue are often diagnosed with low testosterone levels. Unfortunately, this easy diagnosis may be incorrect. It is a common misdiagnosis because of the fact that the symptoms of low testosterone and sleep apnea are very similar. Some common symptoms associated with low testosterone levels include:

  • Low Energy

  • Decreased Sex Drive

  • Depression

  • Chronic Fatigue

  • Weight Gain

  • Decreased Muscle Mass and Bone Density

  • Loss of Body and Facial Hair

  • Erectile Dysfunction

Roughly half of these symptoms, including erectile dysfunction, depression, chronic fatigue, low energy and decreased sex drive, are some of the symptoms that are also associated with sleep apnea. This is why the disorder is often overlooked.

A Dangerous Misdiagnosis

A misdiagnosis can sometimes be minor and non-life-threatening, but in the case of sleep apnea and low testosterone levels, the misdiagnosis can be fatal. Sleep apnea disorder can worsen your other health issues or even be deadly when left untreated. In addition, studies have shown that low testosterone treatments can actually cause your sleep apnea to worsen.

Consider Obtaining a Second Opinion

If you have been diagnosed with low testosterone levels by a medical professional, then you may want to consider obtaining a second opinion from another doctor, especially a doctor who specializes in sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. While your problem may actually be low testosterone, there is the possibly that it is not. After all, roughly 22 million people here in America suffer from the sleep disorder. It's in your best interest to seek out a second opinion from a sleep doctor at a place like Central Illinois Allergy & Respiratory Services Ltd so that it can be determined whether or not you have sleep apnea disorder or simply low testosterone levels.  


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