Sleep Apnea Symptoms and What They Can Mean

Sleep Apnea, a disorder that leads a person to stop breathing for a certain period of time while they sleep, can be a mild or serious problem for the sufferer. It can be mild, moderate or serious depending on how frequently the person stops breathing per hour and their sleep apnea symptoms. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive occurs when someone has blocked airflow due to narrowed airways; central happens when the breathing muscles don’t receive the right brain signals; mixed is a combination of obstructive and central.

Those who suffer from sleep apnea tend to have sleep apnea symptoms like restless sleep, loud snoring and headaches. The most common sleep apnea symptoms for obstructive sleep apnea are:

Constantly falling asleep during the day. This can occur even when a person is driving, talking, eating, etc.
Waking up tired and feeling restless. Lack of memory, irritability, loss of concentration and just overall sleepiness can also be sleep apnea symptoms.
Headaches in the morning
Sweating and chest pain during sleep
Heartburn at night

A spouse or partner will likely notice different sleep apnea symptoms than those suffering from sleep apnea. They will likely witness the instances when someone with sleep apnea stops breathing which can occur five times an hour for mild cases and up to 50 times per hour for serious cases. Other sleep apnea symptoms others will notice are loud snoring, restless tossing and turning during sleep, and gasping episodes.

Children can also suffer from this disorder. Kids who are younger than five will experience the following sleep apnea symptoms: snoring loudly, mouth breathing, waking up frequently and sweating. Those who are older will exhibit the following sleep apnea symptoms: a stunt in their growth, snoring, wetting their bed and doing poorly in school.

If you or someone you love exhibits sleep apnea symptoms, consult a physician. Sleep apnea symptoms can subside with a change in sleeping patterns, like not sleeping on your back. Devices to improve breathing can help, as can surgery.