The symptoms of sleep apnea when it’s occurring include:
- Very loud snoring
- Episodes of long pauses of interrupted breathing during sleep
- Possibly struggling, snorting, gasping, choking, and partially or completely awakening in an attempt to restart breathing
Symptoms that occur as a result of these episodes of sleep apnea include:
- Disturbed rest
- Daytime sleepiness
- Problems staying alert or paying attention
- Irritability
- Poor memory
- Difficulty learning
- Decreased energy
-
Headache
- Sexual problems
-
Depression
-
Anxiety
- Weight gain
- Hyperactivity in children
- Confusion
Being evaluated for sleep apnea. American Sleep Apnea Association website. Available at:
http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/evaluated.html. Published May 2005. Accessed September 17, 2008.
Fact sheet: pediatric sleep disordered breathing/obstructive sleep apnea. American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at:
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Could-Child-Have-Sleep-Apnea.cfm. Updated November 15, 2011. Accessed June 3, 2013.
NINDS sleep apnea information page.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sleep_apnea/sleep_apnea.htm. Updated December 28, 2010. Accessed June 3, 2013.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated May 23, 2013. Accessed June 3, 2013.
What is sleep apnea? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_Summary.html. Updated July 10, 2012. Accessed June 3, 2013.
Last reviewed June 2013 by
Rimas Lukas, MD; Michael Woods, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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