Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep apnea involves the frequent cessation of breath while you sleep. However, not everyone wakes up when they stop breathing, so many people do not know they have sleep apnea. In fact, it is often a bed partner who notices the symptoms.

Nighttime Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is caused by the collapse or obstruction of airways. The attempt to pull air in through the nose or mouth can often result in laborious breathing or characteristic noises, such as:

Loud or disruptive snoring
Choking or gasping sounds

Side-sleepers may not exhibit the same noisy breathing sounds as back sleepers, yet they may have sleep apnea as much as back sleepers. For some people, the most noticeable sign of sleep apnea is actually the absence of breathing sounds throughout the night.

Breathing disturbances may wake you enough to notice other sensations. As a result, frequent waking for trips to the bathroom (nocturia) is common for people with sleep apnea.

Daytime Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

If sleep apnea or its nighttime symptoms do not wake you up, then you may only suspect a sleep problem if you notice some of the daytime symptoms, such as:

Sleepiness or fatigue during the day
Morning headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Memory loss
Decrease in libido
Irritability

Because the symptoms of sleep apnea may also be symptoms of other mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, it is important to see a sleep specialist for a definitive diagnosis.

Sleep Apnea Specialist in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Senthil Ramasamy of Neurology & Sleep Medicine is board-certified in sleep medicine and neurology. His credentials uniquely qualify him to diagnose and treat both types of sleep apnea.

Help for your sleep apnea starts with a sleep study. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Ramasamy and learn more about your sleep study. Diagnostic studies can be scheduled within two weeks, and you meet with the sleep specialist again to learn more about your treatment options.