The Symptoms and Causes of Sleep Apnea

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

It’s extremely important to pay close attention to our bodies. In doing so, we may be able to identify abnormalities in our bodies, energy, and overall health. If you constantly suffer from extreme fatigue, loud snoring, or choking, you may be living with a sleep disorder. Although not all snoring is directly caused by sleep apnea, it is a common symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

One of the most recognizable symptoms of sleep apnea is the chronic, raucous breathing. Because soft tissue blocks airflow, individuals with sleep apnea snore loudly as they struggle to inhale and exhale. These breathing problems caused by OSA may affect a person’s ability to get a full night’s rest – leading to:

• Daytime fatigue and sleepiness
• Grogginess during the day
• Morning headaches
• Insomnia
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nocturia
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat
• Night sweating

Causes of Sleep Apnea

While there is no single cause of sleep apnea, there are certain health and behavioral factors that can increase an individual’s risk of developing this condition. However, there are certain risk factors that should be considered and could be related to sleep apnea, such as genetic predisposition and weight.

Other factors that may play a role in your sleep apnea diagnosis include:

• Gender
• Menopause
• Obesity
• Body type – large neck
• Suffering from hypertension
• GERD (gastro-enteral reflux disease) acid reflux

It’s important to note that although sleep apnea is treatable, it may not always be prevented. As mentioned, sleep apnea is a hereditary condition meaning that a person who has a family history of sleep apnea may not live unscathed.

Why Sleep Apnea Can Be Dangerous

Living with an untreated sleep disorder such as sleep apnea can be dangerous and in the most severe cases, deadly. In fact, individuals with an untreated and undiagnosed sleep disorder live with three times the risk of premature death.

There are consequences of neglecting treatment. Some of the long-term consequences of sleep apnea and the associated sleep deprivation include a higher risk of:

• Depression
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes  

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This is the most common type of sleep apnea. OSA is when the breathing stops involuntarily for periods of time during sleep when the airway has become blocked, narrowed, or floppy. 
• Central sleep apnea: There is no blockage of the airway, but the brain doesn’t send the proper signals to the respiratory muscles to breathe. 
• Mixed sleep apnea: This is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

• Chronic fatigue
• Waking up gasping or choking
• Excessive drowsiness during the day
• Dry mouth or sore throat when waking up
• Morning headache
• Lack of concentration
• Mood swings
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Forgetfulness
• Swelling in the legs

• Low energy and reduced productivity 
• Irritability, anxiety, and mood swings
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Headaches
• Depression
• Heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and heart attacks.