Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder defined by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of unusually low breathing, during sleep. The pauses in breathing are called apnea and can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Even though apnea's can occur between five and thirty times or more an hour people who suffer from sleep apnea rarely are aware that they are having trouble breathing even when waking up. There are three kinds of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea (CSA), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and a combination of the two. OSA is the most common and has several symptoms that can be noticed.

People who suffer from sleep apnea may have one or more of the following symptoms: excessive daytime drowsiness, not feeling refreshed after sleeping, morning and night headaches, swelling of the legs, heartburn and sweating and chest pain during sleep. Your partner may notice symptoms as well including: evening gasping spells, restless tossing and turning, nighttime choking, episodes of not breathing and loud snoring.

Someone who suffers from sleep apnea may also notice symptoms during the daytime such as difficulty remembering, lack of focus, trouble concentrating, mood swings and feeling tired. Again, most people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it and unless someone else is present to notice the abnormal breathing and periods of choking it can be very hard to diagnose the problem.

Some of the symptoms associated with sleep apnea can be temporary and may clear up after a night or two. Pollen, dust and food can all affect a person's sleep and how they breathe at night so just because you wake up choking or gasping does not necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. However, you may want to seek medical attention if you or your partner consistently snores loudly at night and feels tired throughout the day, you notice your bed partner stops breathing, chokes or gasps during their sleep regularly or if you notice yourself falling asleep at inappropriate times.

Sleep apnea can be genetic and it can also occur due to a particular lifestyle. Getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake are all preventive measures that can help reduce the risk of sleep apnea. However, if the condition is severe it is recommended you seek medical attention since you may need surgery or medication to help treat sleep apnea.

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