Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The actual symptoms of sleep apnea when it’s occurring are:

Very loud snoring
Episodes of long pauses of interrupted breathing during sleep
Possibly struggling, snorting, gasping, choking, and partially or completely awakening in an attempt to restart breathing

Symptoms that occur as a result of these episodes of sleep apnea include:

Disturbed rest
Daytime sleepiness
Problems staying alert or paying attention
Irritability
Poor memory
Difficulty learning
Decreased energy
Headache
Sexual problems
Depression
Mood swings
Anxiety
Weight gain
Hyperactivity in children
High blood pressure
Heart disease and heart attack
Stroke
Confusion
Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies

References

Being evaluated for sleep apnea. American Sleep Apnea Association website. Available at: http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/evaluated.html . Published May 2005. Accessed September 17, 2008.

Cecil R, Goldman L, Benett JC. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2000.

Fact sheet: could my child have sleep apnea? American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Could-Child-Have-Sleep-Apnea.cfm . Accessed September 17, 2008.

NINDS sleep apnea information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sleep%5Fapnea/sleep%5Fapnea.htm . Updated June 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.

What is sleep apnea? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea%5FWhatIs.html . Updated February 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Rimas Lukas, MD
Review Date: 09/2012
Update Date: 00/91/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.