Sleep Apnea - Common Symptoms

Sleep apnea is a condition under which the breathing pattern of an individual is altered when he/she is sleeping. While a person not affected by this condition sleeps fitfully, an individual with a case of untreated sleep apnea is unable to sleep soundly because the breathing during sleeping is interrupted. There are breathing pauses, which might leave one gasping for breath all of a sudden. At other times, there could be shallow breathing with the pauses in breathing lasting ten to twenty seconds.

As a condition, sleep apnea symptoms are mostly visible when one is asleep. Therefore, one has to take help of his/her partner in identifying these symptoms. However, if one sleeps alone, he/she can record his/her sleep to identify symptoms of this disorder. Snoring is one sign, which identifies it; however, not all those who snore are afflicted by the problem. In other cases, those having sleep apnea might not be snoring at all. Therefore, besides the normal sleep apnea symptoms during the night one has to consider the other symptoms visible during the daytime.

Majority of symptoms include long pauses in breathing while sleeping, loud snoring, gasping, choking or snorting during sleep and a feeling of sleepiness during the day despite of the time spent sleeping at night. Besides these, some other less common symptoms include:
Morning headachesSore throat or a dry mouth in the morningRestless sleepAt times feeling out of breath at nightThe urge to use the bathroom too often at nightDifficulty in concentratingIrritability, depression or moodiness

This sleep disorder affects children as well and therefore, there are certain visual symptoms, which parents must be able to recognize for early treatment. These include
Strange sleeping positionsExcessive perspiration at nightBedwetting

During the day, children affected by this sleep disorder exhibit certain behavioral changes such as:
HyperactivityInattentionPoor performance at schoolHostile behaviorIrritableBreathing through their mouth and not the nose

Therefore, these symptoms among children can point to sleep apnea, which then needs surgery to remove the adenoids or tonsils, correcting the problem. Early detection and treatment can save one from having other serious illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, weight gain and heart disease.

Unsuspected sleep apnea may exist for years but it is a condition, which needs to be quickly redressed. Therefore, as soon as one notices certain symptoms, he/she can consult a doctor for the treatment of the same.

If you face with sleep apnea, you'd probably interested in reading little synoptic article about CPAP masks and researching some CPAP masks reviews. Read about CPAP alternatives available today also.

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