Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Those who believe they may have sleep apnea symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is important to know you have sleep apnea because it can lead to other health complications.

Learn tips to stop snoring.

Sleep apnea is a nighttime condition in which the airway is closed temporarily, blocking all breathing for several seconds. This commonly happens hundreds of times a night. The brain jars awake just enough to open the airway again. This means that attaining quality, deep sleep is difficult.

If you believe that you may have sleep apnea, explore a few questions about your lifestyle and sleeping habits.

• Are you tired after a full night's sleep? Since the brain is unable to get REM sleep in people with sleep apnea, they remain tired throughout the day. Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the most common symptoms of the condition.

• Do you have memory loss or the inability to concentrate? If you have been forgetting things often, or have difficulty focusing on the tasks at hand, this could be a symptom of sleep apnea.

• Do you have heartburn, chest pain or sweating at night? The body's reactions to sleep apnea can be seen in multiple ways. Sweating and chest pain may occur during the night. Waking with a sour taste in your mouth or having heartburn can also be a contributing factor.

In addition to these considerations, if you are overweight, or have extra skin in the neck region, this could cause sleep apnea. Learn more about the cause of sleep apnea to find out if you have other warning signals.

Usually, your partner is the one who will mention the potential for something being wrong. Those who sleep with you, or near to you, can often give you the most definitive answer by answering a few questions.

• Does your loved one snore? Snoring is one of the most significant symptoms. This is an indication that the airway is tight or closed up. However, not all people who snore have the condition. Rather, if someone did not snore, or snore as intensely as they are now, this could be an indication of sleep apnea.

• Do they stop breathing at night? Apnea stops the breathing, which can be seen as pauses in breathing activity. This can happen just a five to ten times per hour or up to 50 times per hour in those with severe apnea.

• Do you notice other difficulties with sleep? Gasping spells, tossing and turning, choking spells, and coughing could all be attributed to sleep apnea.

Often, it is the combination of both symptoms you feel and others tell you about that can help you to learn you have sleep apnea. If you have any of these, it is important to speak with your doctor about your condition as soon as possible.

Sleep apnea can affect children, too. The symptoms of sleep apnea in children are dependent on the child's age.

• Under Five: Those under five often have snoring and will tend to breathe through their mouth. They also wake up often and are restless when they are sleeping. Some also sweat at night.

• Over Five: Older children may have more clearly defined symptoms. They are not getting enough sleep, so grades drop and they may be excessively tired during the day. They, too, snore at night. They also may have instances of bed wetting frequently. Many have short attention spans and behavior problems.

If any of these sleep apnea symptoms seem like they describe you or your loved one, you should contact your family doctor to schedule a sleep study. The sleep study will allow doctors to access the number of times you wake during the night. Then, medications and CPAP devices, which improve breathing quality, can be prescribed to improve your condition.

Do not wait. Sleep apnea can cause a number of difficulties in everyday life, including the development of serious health conditions including heart related problems.

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