Sleep Apnea (Symptoms)

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is disrupted during sleep. The brain will automatically restart the process, often without the subject's conscious awareness, but there is a physical toll. At minimum, sleep apnea results in daytime fatigue. At worst, it is associated with heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition.

Often, the person who has obstructive sleep apnea does not remember the episodes of apnea during the night. The predominant symptoms are usually associated with excessive daytime sleepiness due to poor sleep during the night. Other symptoms include:

Loud snoring
Periods of not breathing (apnea)
Awakening not rested in the morning
Abnormal daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at inappropriate times
Morning headaches
Weight gain
Limited attention
Memory loss
Poor judgment
Personality changes
Lethargy

Additional symptoms associated with this disease:

Leg Swelling (if apnea is severe)
Automatic behavior (performing actions by rote)
Hyperactive behavior, especially in children
High blood pressure

An estimated 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. However, few of them have had the problem diagnosed. Patients with the typical features of sleep apnea, such as loud snoring, obesity, and excessive daytime sleepiness should be referred to a specialized sleep center that can perform a test called polysomnography. This test records the patient's brain waves, heartbeat, and breathing during an entire night. If sleep apnea is diagnosed, several treatments are available. Mild sleep apnea frequently can be overcome through weight loss or by preventing the person from sleeping on his or her back. Other people may need special devices or surgery to correct the obstruction. People with sleep apnea should never take sedatives or sleeping pills, which can prevent them from awakening enough to breathe.