Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses in breathing, called apneas, can last anywhere from a few seconds to over a minute. The pauses are usually accompanied by loud snoring or choking noises as the airway is obstructed.

When breathing pauses or becomes very shallow during sleep, it reduces the flow of oxygen to vital organs and the brain. This can cause sleep to be restless and non-refreshing. Sleep apnea increases the risk of developing other medical problems over time if left untreated, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and stroke.

The most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Snoring

My main problem was snoring, which was constant and loud. Many people snore occasionally, but for those with sleep apnea, the snoring is louder, more frequent, and more disruptive than typical snoring.

With regular snoring, the snoring sounds are often soft and sporadic. But snoring related to sleep apnea tends to be loud and rhythmic, sometimes described as snorting, choking, or gasping noises. This is because when someone has sleep apnea, their airway becomes obstructed or collapses during sleep, which vibrates the tissue in the throat and causes loud snoring sounds.

Sleep apnea snoring may stop briefly as the person struggles to breathe, followed by a loud snort as they start breathing again.

 The key differences between regular snoring and sleep apnea snoring include Loudness – Sleep apnea snoring is usually louder and more jarring.

• Pattern – With sleep apnea, snoring is rhythmic with pauses when breathing stops, while regular snoring is intermittent.
• Consistency – Snoring from sleep apnea occurs frequently or every night, versus occasional snoring.
• Disruptiveness – The snoring often disturbs the sleep of bed partners with sleep apnea.

Recognizing frequent, loud, and disruptive snoring as a red flag symptom can help those with potential sleep apnea get the testing and treatment they need for better sleep. Paying attention to snoring patterns is key to determining if someone may suffer from this dangerous sleep disorder.

Gasping or Choking

Another bad symptom that I had was gasping.  I would wake myself up by gasping for air. This is what really concerned my husband.

Gasping can last several seconds as the person struggles to breathe. This also makes the throat very dry.

If someone is experiencing frequent episodes of gasping or choking while asleep, it is a strong indicator of sleep apnea. The blockages that cause these breathing interruptions prevent restful sleep. Left untreated, it increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Discuss any observed gasping or choking during sleep with a doctor to determine if sleep apnea testing is advised. Addressing these breathing abnormalities can lead to better health.

Daytime Fatigue

Another symptom that I had was Daytime Fatigue which is excessive daytime sleepiness. People with untreated sleep apnea often feel very tired and unrefreshed during the day, even after getting enough nighttime sleep.

The daytime drowsiness was a real problem. At work I would fall asleep and every day at lunch I would go to my car and take a nap. When talking to my husband, I would just fall asleep. I did not have a big problem with driving, at times when driving long distances, I would get sleepy but not just driving around town. Basically, all I wanted to do was sleep. 

Treatment for sleep apnea, especially CPAP therapy, usually resolves the issue of excessive daytime fatigue. With their breathing normalized during sleep, patients report waking up feeling much more refreshed and alert. Getting high-quality sleep enables better daytime energy and performance.

Insomnia

During the night I would wake up every one to two hours and turn over. I found that it was sometimes harder to fall asleep.    After reading about Sleep apnea, I realized that was insomnia.

When I would get up in the morning, I was more tired and felt like I had not slept at all.

The lack of restful sleep can make people feel tired, irritable, and stressed during the day. They may have difficulty concentrating, remembering things, and performing at their best. The daytime sleepiness and fatigue then compound problems falling and staying asleep at night.

So, while people with sleep apnea need more sleep because of their condition, they often experience insomnia symptoms like trouble initiating and maintaining sleep. Treating the underlying breathing problems can help restore normal sleep patterns and resolve this paradoxical insomnia.

Restless Sleep

One of the main symptoms of sleep apnea is frequent restless sleep and tossing and turning throughout the night. People with sleep apnea often experience constant body movements, shifting positions frequently, and an inability to sleep soundly through the night.

The pauses in breathing from sleep apnea prevent the body from reaching the deeper stages of sleep. As a result, sleep is lighter and more prone to disruption. The lack of oxygen caused by apneic events can also trigger the body to rouse itself partially awake as a protective response. This leads to fitful, interrupted sleep as opposed to deep, restorative sleep.

The constant waking up prevents people with sleep apnea from getting enough high-quality REM and slow wave sleep. Tossing and turning are reflexive reactions as the body tries unsuccessfully to recapture deeper sleep. However, the underlying apnea keeps causing sleep fragmentation throughout the night.

Waking up frequently not feeling rested and refreshed is a hallmark of sleep apnea. The constant restless movements and changing positions are the body’s way of reacting to respiratory distress. Paying attention to frequent nighttime tossing and turning can help identify sleep apnea even before an official diagnosis.

Headaches

One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is frequent morning headaches. I always associated this with sinus issues. I never thought it had anything to do with sleep apnea.

Some of the headaches would be throbbing, immediately upon waking up. The pain was focused on the temples, back of the head and forehead.

After using my CPAP machine, the headaches disappeared.

So, if you find yourself frequently waking up with bad headaches that resolve after being awake for a while, it could potentially be a sign of an underlying sleep breathing disorder. Discuss any persistent morning headaches with your doctor.

Concentration and Memory Issues

Because of the lack of sleep, concentration and memory issues were affected.

Disrupted sleep from sleep apnea also leads to excessive daytime sleepiness. Being sleepy during the day makes it very difficult to concentrate, remember things, and perform mentally demanding tasks.

Treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP has been shown to significantly improve concentration and memory. By restoring healthy oxygen levels during sleep and preventing fragmentation, CPAP can reverse some of the neural damage caused by sleep apnea. Daytime sleepiness is also dramatically reduced, enabling better concentration and mental clarity. Treating sleep apnea is key to optimizing cognitive health.

Conclusion

The main symptoms of sleep apnea we covered include frequent snoring, gasping, or choking during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, restless sleep, headaches upon waking, difficulty concentrating and problems with memory, like depression and irritability. While these symptoms can significantly disrupt sleep and daily functioning, it is important to know that sleep apnea is a highly treatable condition.

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