Sleep Apnea - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Common sleep apnea signs and symptoms are snoring or gasping during sleep; reduced or absent breathing, called apnea events; and sleepiness. Undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea prevents restful sleep and can cause complications that may affect many parts of your body.
Signs and symptoms
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Sleep Apnea - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Common signs of sleep apnea:
- Reduced or absent breathing, known as apnea events
- Frequent loud snoring
- Gasping for air during sleep
Common symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue
- Decreases in attention, vigilance, concentration, motor skills, and verbal and visuospatial memory
- Dry mouth or headaches when waking
- Sexual dysfunction or decreased libido
- Waking up often during the night to urinate
Did you know that sleep apnea symptoms may be different for women and children compared with men?
Complications
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Sleep Apnea - Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Sleep apnea may increase your risk of the following disorders:
- Asthma
- Atrial fibrillation
- Cancers, such as pancreatic, renal, and skin cancers
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cognitive and behavioral disorders, such as decreases in attention, vigilance, concentration, motor skills, and verbal and visuospatial memory, as well as dementia in older adults. In children, sleep apnea has been associated with learning disabilities.
- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, heart failure, difficult-to-control high blood pressure, and stroke
- Eye disorders, such as glaucoma, dry eye, or keratoconus
- Metabolic disorders, including glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes
- Pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and gestational high blood pressure, as well as having a baby with low birth weight
Did you know that sleep apnea can cause inflammation and lead to complications?
When blood oxygen levels drop due to obstructive sleep apnea, your body and brain trigger the “fight or flight” response. This increases your blood pressure and heart rate and wakes you from sleep so that your upper airway can open. These cycles of decreased and increased blood oxygen levels can cause inflammation that may contribute to atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in blood vessels, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Chronic inflammation can also damage the pancreas and lead to type 2 diabetes.