Like most people, you probably have sleep apnea, but you don’t know it. Sleep apnea symptoms appear gradually, and your sleeping partner may be the first to notice. Sleep should be your body’s time to reset, recharge, and recover. However, if you have sleep apnea, that rest can be interrupted, sometimes several times a night. What makes the condition even more concerning is that about 90% of cases remain undiagnosed.
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when your airway repeatedly collapses or narrows as your muscles and soft tissues relax during sleep. These awakenings happen when your brain responds to the airway collapse. They do more than interrupt your rest, however. They can prevent you from getting the restorative sleep your body needs. In this article, we’ll highlight three warning signs of sleep apnea that you should never ignore.
1. Loud Snoring
Loud snoring is probably the most obvious warning sign on this list, but it is also the easiest to dismiss as something that runs in the family or a harmless annoyance. However, if your snoring is loud enough to be heard from another room or to wake you up, you probably have a narrowed or blocked airway.
Not all snoring means you have sleep apnea. However, if your snoring is persistent, interrupted by gasping, or accompanied by symptoms such as daytime drowsiness, it may be worth looking into more closely. It’s advisable to get a test kit and have a sleep apnea test. A licensed respirologist can then review your sleep data and come up with a comprehensive diagnostic report.
2. Pauses in Breathing During Sleep
Watching your partner stop breathing during sleep, even briefly, can be alarming. If you notice repeated pauses and find yourself waiting for their breathing to resume, it’s probably time you took the signs seriously. Frequent interruptions in breathing can indicate sleep apnea and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
When this happens, your airflow can stop for several seconds, sometimes dozens or even hundreds of times throughout the night. Your oxygen levels may drop, prompting your brain to briefly wake you so you can resume breathing. You may not remember these awakenings the next morning.
These breathing disruptions are more than alarming. If nothing is done, repeated drops in oxygen and interrupted sleep can increase your risk of serious health problems, including:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
3. Excessive Daytime Napping or Fatigue
Persistent daytime fatigue or frequent napping may be a sign that your sleep is being disrupted by sleep apnea. Even if you spend seven to eight hours sleeping, disrupted breathing can prevent your brain and body from getting the restorative sleep needed to feel refreshed. Over time, this persistent fatigue can affect your memory, focus, and reaction time. You may also notice changes in your mood, motivation, and ability to concentrate.
Endnote
If you often wake up tired despite getting a full night’s sleep, or someone has noticed that you snore loudly, these signs are worth taking seriously. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward understanding what may be affecting your sleep and overall well-being.
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