Being Aware of Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Posted by Jeffrey Robert on March 15th, 2009 filed in Sleep Health

Extremely loud snoring may be a symptom of a much more serious condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be life threatening of left untreated so it is important that you become familiar with the signs if you think you may be afflicted. Snoring is one of the indicators, but there are others you can watch for too.

There are two main varieties of sleep apnea. One type is called obstructive sleep apnea. OSA happens when your airway is blocked temporarily while you sleep and you are unable to breath as a result. The other kind is central sleep apnea. CSA occurs when the brain malfunctions in its responsibility for regulating breathing. Both of these conditions can be treated with the help of a physician.

Sleep apnea can strike men and women of all ages, but it is most frequently found in overweight men in their forties and older. Recent studies have found that even children are more frequently suffering from symptoms as well.

Those who have sleep apnea may exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:

1. Very loud snoring that wakes you or your partner.

2. Morning time headaches.

4. Daytime sleepiness felt regularly; also known as hypersomnia.

4. Inability to stay asleep all night, known as insomnia.

5. Short episodes of not breathing during sleep.

6. Sore throat or dry mouth on waking.

7. Irritability.

8. Concentration, learning or behavior problems.

9. Hypertension.

10. Hyperactivity in children (ADHD).

The patient is very often completely unaware that they are experiencing this problem and have to be advised by their partner. They however are acutely aware that they are extremely tired all the time.

Even though it can turn deadly, there are many other serious problems that must be addressed to stop the negative effects on health. The depletion of oxygen in the brain is a problem and leads to poor concentration, drowsiness and lack of alertness. An overall decrease in the oxygen supply to the brain increases the levels of carbon dioxide leading to intense toxicity building which is another cause of heart attacks and strokes.