Sleep apnea signs and symptoms

Sleep apnea is when your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you’re sleeping. It can disrupt your sleep at night and make you feel tired during the day. When left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to serious health issues. Because sleep apnea signs are sometimes mild, it can be tough to know if you have the disorder.¹

Once you’re aware of your sleep apnea symptoms, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor and explain what’s happening. Learn more about how to recognize sleep apnea symptoms and when to see your doctor for help.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea

One of the most recognizable and common sleep apnea symptoms is snoring–especially snoring that’s loud enough to wake you or your bed partner up. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include²:

• Gasping for air during sleep
• Morning headaches
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Feeling irritated throughout the day
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Trouble paying attention or concentrating during the day

Many of these symptoms occur because sleep apnea doesn’t allow you to get the rest your body needs. Without enough sleep, you could have trouble remembering important things and even controlling your emotions. Symptoms like irritability, headaches and difficulty concentrating can affect your ability to do your job and keep up with your responsibilities, lowering your overall quality of life.

These symptoms can take a toll on your career, personal relationships and emotional well-being. Sleep apnea can also lead to the development of serious health issues.

If you have sleep apnea, you’re more likely to develop inflammation³ throughout your entire body. This can have long-term effects on your cardiovascular system. It can also damage blood vessels throughout the body, potentially increasing the risk of kidney disease, vision problems and type 2 diabetes.

Signs of sleep apnea to watch for

Unfortunately, the signs of sleep apnea are not always noticeable. Your bed partner may spot irregular breathing patterns and moments when you stop breathing completely during the night. However, other sleep apnea signs are more subtle or can be mistaken for symptoms of other conditions. These may include²:

• Night sweats
• Restless sleep
• Frequent wakeups
• Daytime fatigue
• Headaches
• Trouble concentrating
• Mood changes
• Chronic acid reflux⁴

You don’t need to have all of these symptoms to be diagnosed with sleep apnea. Some symptoms may be so mild that you could easily miss them. If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist for testing to help them make a diagnosis. From there, you and your doctor will work together to build a treatment plan.

Sleep apnea and daytime fatigue

One of the most worrisome sleep apnea symptoms is daytime fatigue. Everyone has days when they’re tired after not sleeping well. But if you have sleep apnea, this becomes the norm. Simple activities can become a struggle, and you may find it difficult to stay awake as you drive, work or even watch TV.

Since sleep apnea causes you to wake up repeatedly during the night, your body doesn’t get the deep sleep it needs to function properly. People with severe OSA will experience repeated episodes of breathing cessation, followed by resumption over the night, occurring up to 30 times per hour.² This interruption in sleep patterns can have serious consequences. For one thing, you could put yourself and others in danger by driving while exhausted, risk falling asleep at the wheel⁵ and causing a serious accident.

When you don’t get enough sleep, your concentration and memory suffer. That’s because the lack of rest impacts cognitive processes in your brain. Poor sleep reduces your attention span while also making it difficult to remember what you hear or see. This can make it harder to do your job, complete your schoolwork or carry out other responsibilities.

Lack of sleep can affect cognitive flexibility⁶, which means you may struggle to adapt to changes. You’re more likely to make risky choices, too, because your judgment could be impaired. Mood swings are another symptom of sleep apnea that can potentially cause problems with your friends, family, coworkers and other relationships.

What causes sleep apnea?

While there are some common risk factors, the truth is that sleep apnea can affect people of all shapes, sizes, races and genders. Additionally, there are different types of sleep apnea.⁷

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. If you have OSA, something is obstructing your airways while you sleep. The most common cause is that the muscles in your throat relax while sleeping. This causes surrounding tissues to fold over your windpipe and block the flow of air.

Central sleep apnea (CSA) involves your brain not sending the appropriate signals to the muscles that keep you breathing while you sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea causes:

• Excess weight: One of the most common causes is obesity. People with excess weight tend to have fat deposits and extra tissue that folds over their windpipe.⁸
• Age: Your age also plays a role. Although children can develop OSA⁹, it’s much more likely to occur in older people.¹⁰
• Alcohol use: People who drink alcohol have a higher risk of developing the condition. Alcohol expands the blood vessels in your nose. This can contribute to congestion and make it much more difficult to breathe through your nose.¹¹
• Smoking: If you smoke tobacco, you may be more likely to develop OSA. Tobacco causes inflammation to the airways, narrowing them.¹²
• Body structure: Certain structural differences in your body can result in OSA, too. If you have an underbite, a large tongue or large tonsils, you could experience breathing obstructions when your throat relaxes. Additionally, genetic factors may impact the structure of your neck and head, making you more likely to develop OSA.⁹

A few health conditions are associated with OSA. Type 2 diabetes has been linked to the development of sleep apnea¹³ because of how the disease affects breathing. It damages blood vessels throughout the respiratory system, making breathing more difficult overall.

Central sleep apnea causes¹⁴:

• Brain stem disorders: CSA can be caused by a number of health conditions that impact the brain stem, which regulates your breathing. If you have CSA, your brain stem doesn’t react properly to the carbon dioxide levels in your blood. People who have conditions such as congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation are more likely to develop this type of sleep apnea.
• Neurological conditions: CSA is also a potential result of neurological conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Other genetic conditions that could make CSA more likely include Rett Syndrome and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.
• Opioid use: Additionally, opioid use is associated with CSA due to the effect of these drugs on the breathing system.

How do I know if I have sleep apnea?

If you think you have sleep apnea, it’s important to keep a close eye on your overall health and symptoms. If you have a partner, ask them for help. They can help you keep track of how often you wake up during the night or let you know if your snoring is getting worse.

The best way to find out whether you have sleep apnea is to reach out to a healthcare professional. Your doctor can recommend a specialist who is qualified to diagnose sleep apnea. If you’re diagnosed, you can work together to create a customized treatment plan that may help you feel and sleep better.

When to see a doctor about sleep apnea symptoms

If you’re constantly struggling to stay awake while you drive or watch television despite going to bed at reasonable hours each night, it can be a sign you have sleep apnea. You should also speak to your doctor if you notice your memory and focus aren’t quite what they once were. These can be common signs of sleep apnea or another condition.

Without a diagnosis, symptoms of sleep apnea can have a negative impact on your quality of life. If left untreated, sleep apnea could even put you at risk of developing other health issues like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Catching sleep apnea early and addressing underlying causes may help prevent some of the long-term issues associated with it.

The moment that you notice your life has become more difficult because of symptoms like snoring, waking up repeatedly and excessive daytime sleepiness, it’s time to consult your doctor. With professional help, you can be on your way to getting the sleep you need. If you need talking points to start a conversation about sleep apnea with your doctor, check out our Sleep Discussion Guide.

Are you or a loved one experiencing sleep issues or potential sleep apnea symptoms?

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