Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep Apnea - What Increases Your Risk?

2010-03-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

Risk factors that you cannot control and may make you more likely to have sleep apnea are:

Sleep apnea in the family history;
Aging, as sleep apnea is most common over age 30.
Gender. Sleep apnea is more common in men than women.
Ethnicity. Hispanics,Blacks,and Pacific Islanders have a greater risk of developing sleep apnea symptoms.
Spinal or craniofacital deformity.
Menopause. sleep apnea occurs more often in women after menopause than at which time women get sleep apnea at a rate similar to men.

Risk factors you may be able to control:

Obesity, large neck circumference, enlarged tissues of the nose, mouth or throat.
Bone deformities such as a narrow jaw, which sometimes surgery can correct.
Use of alcohol, tobacco, sleeping pills.
Disorders of the hormone system which may be medicated.
Poor sleep habits.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

2010-03-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

When your breathing is often blocked during sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Cases range from mild to severe depending upon how often in an hour your breathing is interrupted. It can be 5 to 50 times in an hour and your lungs do not get enough oxygen.

What causes obstructive sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea can be caused by blocked or narrow air passages in the nose, mouth or throat as your airway becomes blocked when the muscles of the throat and tongue relax while you sleep.It can also occur if your tonsils or adenoids or uvula are large and press on your airway when you lie down to sleep.

Being overweight, using certain medications or alcohol before bedtime, sleeping on your back, can all contribute to sleep apnea symptoms.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Children

2010-03-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

The sleep apnea symptoms will be different depending upon the age of the child:

Children under 5 years old: snoring, breathing through the mouth, perspiring during sleep, restless sleep, waking during the night often

Children over 5 years old: snoring, wetting the bed, falling grades in school, slow growth patterns for their age group. They may also have behavioral problems and problems with focus and attention.

Snoring is a common apnea symptom in children, but unlike adults, they may not be overly sleepy during the day and the only key symptom may be a slow growth rate. Rarely, sleep apnea in children can cause developmental delay and a failure of the right side of the heart.

Similar symptoms can occur with other conditions such as an underactive thyroid and other sleeping disorders such as narcolepsy or restless leg syndrome.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

2010-03-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

Read this list of common apnea symptoms:

Extreme fatigue during the day
Headaches in the morning or at night
Nighttime heartburn or sour taste in the mouth during the night
Not feeling refreshed and rested upon waking
Problems with concentration, memory, weariness, personality changes
Swelling in the legs and ankles
Perspiring and/or chest pain during the night
Waking during the night to urinate
Loud snoring
Periods of not breathing (apnea) 5-50 times an hour
Restlessness during sleep
Choking or gasing spells at night

If you have these symptoms please see a doctor to diagnose and treat your apnea symptoms.