Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Written by Fred McConnell

Sleep apnea is a tricky disorder. Research has found that a large number of people suffer from sleep disorders. In fact, numbers from the Cleveland Sleep Clinic have found that 25 per cent of men and 10 per cent of women suffer from sleep apnea. For many, it could appear as just the annoying presence of snoring each night. But in reality, it’s a disorder that has many symptoms.

According to Help Guide, sleep apnea has a handful of symptoms that should speak out to sufferers and their loved ones.
In many cases, those who suffer from the sleep disorder do not notice sleep apnea symptoms. It is most often bed partners who will notice the symptoms first.

For one, frequent silences during sleep are one clear symptom of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea happens because the person who is sleeping often stops breathing for periods of up to 10 seconds at a time. This can be uncomfortable, as it forces the sleeper to wake up often during the night and can cause serious health problems.

When the sleeper stops breathing for short periods of time, it can also lead to another symptom of sleep apnea, which is a sudden gasping for air or choking during sleep. The body will attempt to provide itself with air whenever it can, and as sleep apnea is caused due to a lack of oxygen during sleep, it will be forced to wake up to start breathing.

To the annoyance of housemates and partners, another obvious symptom of sleep apnea is loud and consistent snoring. As air is being obstructed from the lungs, it could be escaping through small passages through the nose and throat. This causes a vibrating noise known as snoring. Loud snoring can be disturbing to many people, and should be a clear sign that there may be a sleep disorder working to disturb your sleep each night.

Because sleep apnea often wakes sufferers and others up during the night, another sleep disorder sign is fatigue and tiredness during the day. As you periodically stop breathing during the night, your body is forced to wake you up in order to start breathing. Though you may not remember waking up throughout your sleep, your body is still not receiving the amount of rest it needs to function properly throughout the day.

If you have noticed that you’re very tired throughout the day, or that you’re not as productive as you might be, you might want to focus your attention on the quality of sleep you receive each night. Restlessness and feeling tired during the day all point towards a sleep disorder like sleep apnea.

Feeling fatigued and tired throughout the day should be taken as a serious symptom when considering the possibility of sleep apnea. These symptoms can have serious effects on others involved in the lives of those with sleep apnea.
When it comes to staying safe at home and in the workplace, be sure to determine if you have a sleep disorder if you often fall asleep at inappropriate times, notice a delay in motor skills and find it very hard to carry out important tasks.

There are also other health problems that are less obvious, but which could be signs of suffering from sleep apnea. Web MD reports that waking up with a sore throat or headache in the morning could be a sign that you had a restless sleep the night before, and that you’re body is not fully rested. A sore throat could also be a symptom of sleep apnea as snoring and attempting to gulp down oxygen causes irritation to the inside of your throat.

Those who have noticed their children complaining of restlessness during the night and being tired during the day should know that sleep apnea affects people of all ages. While sleep apnea is most common in those over the age of 40, and those who are overweight, don’t rule out symptoms that could point towards sleep apnea just because you have a young child or teenager. If you suspect that a child you know is suffering from sleep apnea, or sleep apnea symptoms, be sure to seek the advice of a medical practitioner.

In addition to these symptoms, the Cleveland Sleep Clinic, also lists other symptoms of sleep apnea that adults many experience. Sexual dysfunction, irritability and depression, uncomfortable leg movement during sleep and activity such as night terrors are all lesser known but important symptoms of sleep disorders.

If you think that you or a loved one suffer from a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, don’t ignore the symptoms. Seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner and work towards overcoming sleep apnea, and enjoying a peaceful sleep, as soon as possible.