A Guide to the Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Have you been kept awake by the loud snoring of your partner and you're wondering if it could be sleep apnea? Here is a quick look at some of the symptoms of sleep apnea so that you know what to look out for.

Sleep apnea sufferers stop breathing for short periods during their sleep. This can be due to physical obstruction (obstructive sleep apnea), or due to the respiratory center in the brain not telling you to breath (central sleep apnea). Very occasionally people suffer from both types, which is called mixed sleep apnea.

The obstructive form of the condition is the most common. Sufferers often snore, but just because a person snores doesn't mean they have sleep apnea. Both snoring and sleep apnea is more common in men, and those who are overweight. Losing weight can be a good way to reduce each of these problems without resorting to medical intervention.

Another common symptom of sleep apnea is daytime tiredness. This is because a person doesn't get good quality sleep. Even if they are not woken up completely, they do not enter deep sleep. This can lead to the possibility of them falling asleep during the day.

In more severe cases a person may not get adequate oxygen during the night because their breathing is interrupted. This can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood and headaches for that person in the morning.

A patient may also suffer from changes in mood such as irritability, and reduced cognitive functioning.

One of the more serious symptoms of sleep apnea is an increase in blood pressure. This can lead to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. For this reason many people and their doctors are now taking sleep apnea much more seriously.