One of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea is loud and chronic (ongoing) snoring. Pauses may occur in the snoring. Choking or gasping may follow the pauses.
The snoring usually is loudest when you sleep on your back; it may be less noisy when you turn on your side. Snoring may not happen every night. Over time, the snoring may happen more often and get louder.
Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
You're asleep when the snoring or gasping occurs. You will likely not know that you're having problems breathing or be able to judge how severe the problem is.
Another common sign of sleep apnea is fighting sleepiness during the day, at work, or while driving. You may find yourself rapidly falling asleep during the quiet moments of the day when you're not active.
If you answer "yes" to two or more of the questions below,
you may be suffering from sleep apnea or another sleep disorder
- Do you regularly feel un-refreshed, even after waking from a full night's sleep?
- Do you fall asleep easily during your waking hours, while at home, driving or at work?
- Are you a loud, habitual snorer?
- Has your bed partner (or parent) witnessed you choking, gasping, or holding your breath during sleep?
- Do you wake up more than three times a night?
- Do you have headaches, sore throat, or dry mouth in the mornings after waking up?
- Do you often suffer from poor concentration or judgment, memory loss, irritability and/or depression?
Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.
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