Sleep apnea is an umbrella term for several sleep disorders that can be serious if not treated. Difficulty breathing due to a lack of oxygen is at the center of these conditions, leading to hypertension, stroke and even sudden death. Because sleep apnea happens when sufferers are unconscious, the common symptoms of snoring and daytime sleepiness can be hard to spot, especially for those without a sleep partner. Knowing the weird symptoms of sleep apnea can help determine whether the time is right to see a doctor.
Extraordinarily Loud Snoring
Snoring is a common symptom of many sleep issues, but sometimes sleep apnea snoring can be intense and bizarre. In general, take heed if snoring can be heard throughout the house or an entire apartment building, and especially if neighbors complain. This level of snoring can be 30 decibels louder than ordinary snoring, or the difference between a crying baby and a lawn mower. Besides the usual deep tones and throat vibrations of ordinary snoring, other sounds can include snorting, coughing, piglike grunts, wheezes and punctuated gaspings for breath. This may sound weird and even comical, but this kind of snoring is the best indicator for sleep apnea.
Personality Changes
Another weird symptom of sleep apnea is that some people may seem to switch personalities. Sleep deprivation causes this symptom. Because sleep apnea sufferers do not get enough oxygen during sleep, their sleep is fragmented and rarely restful, no matter how long they stay in bed. At first, the sufferer may feel irritable and grumpy all the time. Other changes to the personality can develop such as sudden mood swings, anxiety and depression. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute reports that children with sleep apnea may also exhibit hyperactivity and aggression.
Excessive Night Sweating
It may be difficult to hear yourself snore, but there is no mistaking the evidence of waking up dripping with sweat. Night sweats are a symptom of obstructive sleep disorder, in which the airway is blocked due to congestion or a change in the architecture of the throat caused by sudden weight gain. The sweats can indicate labored breathing during sleep, as well as restlessness and constant moving around in bed. Stanford University sleep researcher William Dement reviews a study in which 66 percent of those with sleep apnea have excessive sweating. He suggests that light sweating means the blanket may get damp, but excessive sweating calls for changing bedclothes or bathing.
Sexual Dysfunction
Perhaps the weirdest symptom of sleep apnea is also the one most likely to get men to make a doctor's appointment. In short, sleep apnea is highly correlated with sexual dysfunction in men. In a 2009 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, a group of German researchers reported that, in their 400-person study, 69 percent of men with sleep apnea also have erectile dysfunction. The precise mechanism for this correlation is unknown, but it undoubtedly relates to the oxygen-starved brain of sleep apnea sufferers. As Psychology Today writer Dennis Rosen, M.D., reported on July 15, 2009, about this study, "the more you snore, the more likely you are to have decreased sexual function and erectile performance." This unfortunate news for men may be a blessing in disguise for discovering sleep apnea as soon as possible.
