Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Sleep Apnea?SymptomsEarly Warning SignsRisks FactorsWhen to See a DoctorFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Sleep Apnea GuideSurprising Signs and Symptoms of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Symptoms
Early Warning Signs
Risks Factors
When to See a Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Sleep Apnea Guide
Sleepapneais a disorder in which a person experiences pauses in their breathing during sleep. These pauses last 10 seconds or longer, and can occur repeatedly throughout the night.
This irregular breathing and lack of oxygen leads to a range of symptoms from snoring to daytime sleepiness todepression. It also puts a person at higher risk for other health complications likehypertension,stroke, eye disorders, and even death.
This article discusses the symptoms and risk factors for sleep apnea.
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A person with sleep apnea can have up to hundreds of breathing pauses during sleep.
During these pauses, the heart rate drops and the body is deprived of oxygen. Then, the body’s startle reflex awakens the person, which often sounds like a gasp or loud snore. This causes the heart rate and blood pressure to rise quickly.
This process is stressful on the body. In addition to interrupted sleep, over time this can lead to blood vessel wall thickening,arrhythmias, and heart dysfunction.
There are different types of sleep apnea, including:
Prevalence of Sleep ApneaSleep apnea is estimated to occur in 25% of men and 10% of women. It is most common in older men withobesity, but can occur in any person, including babies and children.
Prevalence of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is estimated to occur in 25% of men and 10% of women. It is most common in older men withobesity, but can occur in any person, including babies and children.
Both acute and chronic impacts of sleep apnea lead to a variety of symptoms. People who have greater than 30 breathing pauses per hour are at a higher risk of developing chronic symptoms.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Sleep Apnea Symptoms in ChildrenChildren with sleep apnea may present with different symptoms than adults. These can include:Bed wettingMouth breathingLearning or behavioral disordersDaytime fatigue that can be mislabeled as “laziness” in schoolExcessive need for napping
Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Children
Children with sleep apnea may present with different symptoms than adults. These can include:Bed wettingMouth breathingLearning or behavioral disordersDaytime fatigue that can be mislabeled as “laziness” in schoolExcessive need for napping
Children with sleep apnea may present with different symptoms than adults. These can include:
Because the person with sleep apnea is asleep when their breathing interruption occurs, it can be challenging for them to identify it.
Therefore, for most people with sleep apnea, the earliest warning sign they notice is increased daytime sleepiness. They may notice this because it’s affecting their:
Bed sleeping partners and family members should also be aware of sleep apnea warning signs. Loud, chronic snoring is an early warning sign of sleep apnea, although not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
Pauses in breathing, gasping or choking episodes during sleep, and sudden awakening are other warning signs to look out for.
There are some well-known risk factors for developing sleep apnea. Some of these are modifiable, meaning you can change them. Others are non-modifiable, meaning you were possibly born with the risk factor (such as biological sex) or are unable to change it (such as age).
Non-modifiable sleep apnea risk factors include:
Modifiable sleep apnea risk factors include:
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health consequences including:
Sleep apnea can also be fatal. Therefore, it’s essential to seek diagnosis and treatment if you think you might have sleep apnea.
If you notice any symptoms or early warning signs of sleep apnea, talk to your healthcare provider. For example, if your sleeping partner notices you loudly snoring or gasping in your sleep, mention this to your provider.
Snoring and Sleep ApneaNot everyone with sleep apnea snores, particularly those with central sleep apnea. Therefore, it’s also important that you mention any daytime fatigue or difficulty concentrating to your healthcare provider.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Not everyone with sleep apnea snores, particularly those with central sleep apnea. Therefore, it’s also important that you mention any daytime fatigue or difficulty concentrating to your healthcare provider.
Summary
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that is most likely to affect older men with obesity, but can occur in anyone, including women, children, and babies. Symptoms result from the impact of interrupted breathing during sleep. These include snoring, choking or gasping, insomnia, daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and more.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead toserious health complications, so it’s important to identify symptoms early and communicate them to your healthcare provider.
There are manyeffective treatments for sleep apnea, including manageable lifestyle changes. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider if you experience any symptoms of sleep apnea.
Yes, sleep apnea can be fatal. This is often due to the health complications of having untreated sleep apnea, including respiratory complications or cardiac death due to arrhythmias. A recent study found that people with sleep apnea treated with CPAP have a 5.63 times lower risk of mortality than non-CPAP users.
In some mild cases of sleep apnea, lifestyle changes can eliminate episodes. There are also many well-researched treatments ofsleep apnea, ranging from medication to machines to surgery to positional therapy, that can eliminate symptoms.Learn MoreTreatments for Sleep Apnea
In some mild cases of sleep apnea, lifestyle changes can eliminate episodes. There are also many well-researched treatments ofsleep apnea, ranging from medication to machines to surgery to positional therapy, that can eliminate symptoms.
Learn MoreTreatments for Sleep Apnea
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cowie MR.Sleep apnea: state of the art.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2017;27(4):280-289. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2016.12.005National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.American Sleep Apnea Association.What is sleep apnea?.Cedars-Sinai.Obstructive sleep apnea in children.Dudley K, Patel S.Disparities and genetic risk factors in obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep Medicine. 2016;18:96-102. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2015.01.015Dodds S, Williams LJ, Roguski A, et al.Mortality and morbidity in obstructive sleep apnoea–hypopnoea syndrome: results from a 30-year prospective cohort study.ERJ Open Res. 2020;6(3):00057-02020. doi:10.1183/23120541.00057-2020
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cowie MR.Sleep apnea: state of the art.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2017;27(4):280-289. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2016.12.005National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.American Sleep Apnea Association.What is sleep apnea?.Cedars-Sinai.Obstructive sleep apnea in children.Dudley K, Patel S.Disparities and genetic risk factors in obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep Medicine. 2016;18:96-102. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2015.01.015Dodds S, Williams LJ, Roguski A, et al.Mortality and morbidity in obstructive sleep apnoea–hypopnoea syndrome: results from a 30-year prospective cohort study.ERJ Open Res. 2020;6(3):00057-02020. doi:10.1183/23120541.00057-2020
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cowie MR.Sleep apnea: state of the art.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2017;27(4):280-289. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2016.12.005National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.American Sleep Apnea Association.What is sleep apnea?.Cedars-Sinai.Obstructive sleep apnea in children.Dudley K, Patel S.Disparities and genetic risk factors in obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep Medicine. 2016;18:96-102. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2015.01.015Dodds S, Williams LJ, Roguski A, et al.Mortality and morbidity in obstructive sleep apnoea–hypopnoea syndrome: results from a 30-year prospective cohort study.ERJ Open Res. 2020;6(3):00057-02020. doi:10.1183/23120541.00057-2020
Cowie MR.Sleep apnea: state of the art.Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2017;27(4):280-289. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2016.12.005
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.
American Sleep Apnea Association.What is sleep apnea?.
Cedars-Sinai.Obstructive sleep apnea in children.
Dudley K, Patel S.Disparities and genetic risk factors in obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep Medicine. 2016;18:96-102. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2015.01.015
Dodds S, Williams LJ, Roguski A, et al.Mortality and morbidity in obstructive sleep apnoea–hypopnoea syndrome: results from a 30-year prospective cohort study.ERJ Open Res. 2020;6(3):00057-02020. doi:10.1183/23120541.00057-2020
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