Because of a lack of restorative sleep at night, people with obstructive sleep apnea often have severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability. Complications can include:ĭaytime fatigue and sleepiness. Obstructive sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition. Research has found an association between asthma and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Having family members with obstructive sleep apnea might increase your risk. The frequency of obstructive sleep apnea increases in women after menopause. In general, men are twice or three times as likely as premenopausal women to have obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea might be more common in people with diabetes. People who smoke are more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs twice as often in those who have consistent nasal congestion at night, regardless of the cause. Obstructive sleep apnea is relatively common in people with hypertension. Or your tonsils or adenoids might become enlarged and block your airway. You might inherit naturally narrow airways. The risk of obstructive sleep apnea increases as you age but appears to level off after your 60s and 70s. Medical conditions that are associated with obesity, such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome, also can cause obstructive sleep apnea. Fat deposits around the upper airway can obstruct breathing. Most but not all people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight. However, certain factors put you at increased risk, including: Obstructive sleep apnea care at Mayo ClinicĪnyone can develop obstructive sleep apnea. Many people with this type of sleep apnea don't realize they haven't slept well all night. People with obstructive sleep apnea might not be aware of their interrupted sleep. These disruptions impair your ability to reach the deep, restful phases of sleep, and you'll probably feel sleepy during your waking hours. This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour, all night long. You might make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. You can awaken with shortness of breath that corrects itself quickly, within one or two deep breaths. This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it. Your brain senses this impaired breathing and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. This can lower the level of oxygen in your blood and cause a buildup of carbon dioxide. When the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, hampering your breathing for 10 seconds or longer. These muscles support structures including the back of the roof of your mouth (soft palate), the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils and the tongue. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing. Excessive daytime drowsiness may be due to other disorders, such as narcolepsy. With obstructive sleep apnea, snoring usually is loudest when you sleep on your back, and it quiets when you turn on your side.Īsk your doctor about any sleep problem that leaves you chronically fatigued, sleepy and irritable. Snoring doesn't necessarily indicate something potentially serious, and not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea.īe sure to talk to your doctor if you snore loudly, especially if your snoring is interrupted by periods of silence. Having excessive daytime drowsiness, which may cause you to fall asleep while working, watching television or even driving a vehicle.Snoring loud enough to disturb your sleep or that of others.Mood changes, such as depression or irritabilityĬonsult a medical professional if you have, or if your partner observes, the following:.Difficulty concentrating during the day.Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat.Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking.Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
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