Snoring is one of the most recognizable symptoms of sleep apnea, but it’s far from the only sign. This common sleep disorder can affect your breathing throughout the night, leading to symptoms that affect energy, mood, memory, and overall health.
At Respacare in Bridgewater, New Jersey, our sleep specialists, Dr. Nehal Mehta and Dr. Prashant Patel, often see patients who don’t realize they have sleep apnea because they don’t recognize the less obvious symptoms. Knowing what to look for may help you seek treatment sooner and get the restful sleep you need.
Snoring occurs when airflow causes the tissues in the throat to vibrate while sleeping. In people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the muscles in the throat relax too much, partially or completely blocking the airway.
While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, loud, chronic snoring accompanied by pauses in breathing, choking sounds, or gasping is a common warning sign.
Sleep apnea causes repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. When oxygen levels drop, your body briefly wakes up to reopen the airway.
These awakenings are usually so short that you don’t remember them, but you may wake up gasping, choking, or feeling short of breath. Sleep partners are usually the first to notice these warning signs.
Waking up with a dry mouth may mean you’re breathing through your mouth during the night because of an obstructed airway, increasing the loss of moisture.
Morning headaches are also common. The disrupted breathing lowers oxygen and increases carbon dioxide levels in the blood, causing the blood vessels to expand, increasing pressure in the skull that may lead to headaches when you wake up.
Getting up several times a night to urinate, a condition called nocturia, is also a possible sleep apnea warning sign.
Researchers are investigating the connection between sleep apnea and nocturia, but they theorize that the low oxygen levels and disruptions in sleep may trigger hormonal and physiological changes that increase urine production. And those short, but frequent awakenings may make you more aware of the urge to urinate.
Daytime sleepiness is another common symptom of sleep apnea. Even if you get a solid eight hours of sleep a night, interrupted breathing can prevent you from reaching the restorative stages of sleep.
As a result, you wake up feeling unrefreshed and struggle to stay alert throughout the day.
Lack of sleep affects brain function. If you often have trouble focusing, remembering information, or staying productive, sleep apnea is a possible cause.
Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia.
Sleep plays an essential role in your emotional well-being. When you don’t sleep throughout the night, you may have trouble regulating your emotions.
You might feel more irritable, anxious, or emotionally sensitive than usual. Treating sleep apnea can improve your sleep quality and mood.
If you carry excess body weight, your risk factor for OSA increases since additional tissue around the neck can narrow the airway. At the same time, poor sleep can make weight loss more difficult.
Lack of quality sleep affects the hormones that regulate hunger and fullness, increasing appetite and cravings. Your daytime sleepiness can also make it harder to stay physically active.
Blood pressure naturally lowers when you sleep, giving your cardiovascular system a chance to rest. Sleep apnea interferes with this process by repeatedly activating the body’s stress response throughout the night, causing an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Over time, the repeated surges in stress hormones may cause high blood pressure or make it more difficult to manage.
Poorly managed sleep apnea can affect your sex life. Chronic fatigue, hormonal changes, and low oxygen levels may make you less interested in sex.
Men with sleep apnea may also experience erectile dysfunction, while women may notice reduced arousal and satisfaction.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that affects much more than your sleep. Left untreated, it can increase your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health issues.
If you regularly experience symptoms such as loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, or morning headaches, it’s time to schedule a sleep test. We can give you an accurate diagnosis and effective care to help you sleep better.
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