Sleep Apnea Symptoms
By far the most common of obstructive sleep apnea symptom is snoring. However, not everyone that snores has sleep apnea. Snoring can be brought on by seasonal allergies, blocked nasal passages, a deviated septum, enlarged or swollen tonsils, drinking too much alcohol and even being overweight. There in an alarmingly large percentage of people who habitually snore- sleep apnea is the culprit.
Regarding sleep apnea symptoms, there are some that you (the person suffering with the condition) will notice and then there are some that other people (such as a spouse) may notice.
Common Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms you may notice include:
Excessive daytime sleepiness: This is perhaps the largest telltale sign that you as a person afflicted with sleep apnea will notice. Obstructive sleep apnea significantly diminishes the quality of sleep you get; thus leaving you feeling groggy and tired all day. As a result of poor sleep daily activities such as performance at work, ability to safely drive a car, and even irritability levels can be severely affected. When you wake up in the morning you will feel un-refreshed from your past night’s sleep and can experience problems with your memory.Painful Physical Symptoms: You may notice that when you wake up in the morning that you frequently have headaches, up to 50% of people with sleep apnea report this. Heartburn is another painful symptom many people experience, as well as swelling of the legs, and chest pain while sleeping.
Lapses in Breathing: This is the most frightening symptom associated with sleep apnea! And is also why the word “apnea” is used to describe the disorder, it means the “cessation of breath.” A cessation of breathing can result in fatality! In extreme cases someone can stop breathing as much as 50 times in an hour! Your partner will notice this as they hear you gasping for air during sleep, which can be a very scary experience for your partner to endure on a nightly basis.
Loud Snoring: Sleep apnea can ruin the sleep of not only the person affected by sleep apnea but also the sleep for the partner of that person. One of the most common symptoms is loud and obnoxious snoring and can result in BOTH people not achieving healthy amounts of essential sleep!
Tossing and Turning: You may also notice the person who is suffering from sleep apnea is very restless and is continually tossing and turning throughout the night.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms in children include:
Many of these same symptoms can be found in children as well, with a few exceptions. For children younger than five years old symptoms include: snoring, breathing through the mouth during sleep, restlessness, and sweating.
For children older than five symptoms include snoring, frequent bed-wetting, poor performance in school, and failure to meet expected growth rates as compared to others their age. More common symptoms also include behavioral problems and short attention spans. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, seeing a doctor or dentist that can help diagnose and treat your obstructive sleep apnea would be highly advisable!
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