Sleep apnea can be a serious disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, occurs when muscles in the throat relax. If the brain does not communicate well with muscles that control breathing, it is called central sleep apnea. Complex sleep apnea exists when both types exist together. All three types may affect the heart and can cause serious consequences such as falling asleep when driving. You should be aware of the complete symptoms of sleep apnea and see a physician if you suspect you have the disorder.
Snoring
People with sleep apnea are typically loud snorers. The snoring is often so loud that it keeps others awake. This symptom is typical of those with obstructive sleep apnea.
Pauses in Breathing During Sleep
People with sleep apnea may have multiple times when breathing does not occur for several seconds. This may be concerning enough that someone may try to nudge or wake them to restart their breathing. When breathing starts back up, the person may do so with a loud gasp or jerky body movements.
Daytime Sleepiness
Since sleep apnea often prevents a person from going into a deeper stage of sleep, she is excessively tired when awake. Consequences of this may be falling asleep while driving, while being stopped at a traffic light, when talking to someone, during work or when watching television. No matter how much sleep the person with sleep apnea has, he is constantly tired.
Recurrent Waking and Insomnia
Other signs that a person may have sleep apnea are that they wake up during the night because of a choking feeling or a feeling that they are gasping for air. Others may just wake up several times during the night without realizing why and cannot seem to stay asleep.
Other Symptoms
Waking up with a dry mouth or a sore throat every day may be another sign of sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea also may wake up with a headache. People with sleep apnea are more apt to forget things, be irritable, moody and may not be as interested in sex as they previously had been.
Childhood Symptoms
Children can also have sleep apnea and show several signs, such as daytime sleepiness and being labeled as lazy, not doing well in school, learning disorders, not behaving appropriately, having a hard time swallowing and mouth breathing during the day. During the night, wetting the bed, sweating more than normal and sleeping in unusual positions may also be signs.
