8 Surprising Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep Apnea is one of those chronic conditions that are often understated but it can have life-threatening consequences.

It is an ailment in which the airway gets partially or completely blocked or obstructed as you sleep.

That is why if you toss and turn in bed all through the night apart from being a heavy snorer and it is a regular occurrence, then you should know that it is much more than just a bad night’s sleep.

But you should also be aware that just snoring and fatigue during the daytime are not the only tell-tale signs of Sleep Apnea. There can be a plethora of symptoms which can actually indicate Sleep Apnea.

Sleep apnea symptoms and signs

Here some of the surprising symptoms of Sleep Apnea are mentioned so that you can get some idea and stay careful. Just take a look.

Symptom 1 – Despite Getting Ample Amount of Sleep You Are Still Tired in the Morning

As Sleep Apnea disrupts your breathing all through the night, your sleep is bound to be disturbed. Even if you have no knowledge of waking, people who have Sleep Apnea tend to wake up very frequently. This can prevent people from getting ample amount of rest even after covering sufficient number of hours. Your stress hormones can also get enhanced if you choke and gasp for breath throughout the night which enhances the heart rate that blood pressure. This, in turn, prevents your body from getting a restful sleep.

Symptom 2- Your Partner Says Your Snore or Gasp for Breath or Stop Breathing When You Sleep

You may be snoring or choking throughout the night, but you never wake up with awareness about the same and so it is your bed partner who can be the only one to enlighten you about your symptoms. But you should know that just snoring does not always mean Sleep Apnea. There can be heavy snorers who don’t have Sleep Apnea. Snoring just suggests the narrowing of the throat in the rear portion. But when the narrowing is augmented so much so that it is impossible for even air to pass through, then it is Sleep Apnea.

Symptom 3 – You Take Several Bathroom Breaks While Sleeping at Night

If you wake up to pee at night multiple times then it not that obvious. But this also assists the doctors to diagnose the Sleep Apnea. Waking up often at night and sleeping less can make you go for bathroom breaks more. Moreover, the physiological changes that occur during the sleep apnea can make your body creating and releasing more urine. Studies have revealed that a majority of the patients who complain about night-time urination had breathing trouble while sleeping and the CPAP therapy can help you to sleep better and cut down those night-time bathroom trips.

Symptom 4 – You Awake with Headaches in the Morning

Sleep Apnea patients are bound to have headaches during the morning. The problem in blood flow triggered by Sleep Apnea causes the changes of oxygen level in the brain which can lead to the headaches.

Symptom 5 – Your Mouth Gets Sore and Dry When You Wake Up

For breathing easier, the Sleep Apnea patients often sleep with their mouths open. But this can make their throat and mouth dry. Studies were conducted between people with Sleep Apnea and people who were snorers but were not Sleep Apnea patients. It was revealed that the Sleep Apnea patients were more likely to have Dry Mouths than the other group. Therefore, it was concluded that dry mouth after waking up in the morning appears to be a significant sign of Sleep Apnea.

Symptom 6 – You Wake Up Choking and Gasping for Breath

This is a very common symptom in Sleep Apnea patients. Though this is not a dangerous symptom, but it can be quite disruptive for you and your bed partner.

Symptom 7 – You Experience Night Sweats

One of the sneakiest symptoms of Sleep Apnea is to wake up at night drenched in sweat. Actually, the fight-or-flight response is activated in your body when it is fighting for air. As a result of that, the body temperature rises. Studies revealed that about 30% Sleep Apnea patients experience night sweats frequently (more than thrice a week). So doctors must consider the risk of Sleep Apnea for patients who complain about sweating at night.

Symptom 8 – You Have High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is quite difficult to control for the Sleep Apnea patients. If your Hypertension is not finding a cure, then a test for Sleep Apnea is worth it. The stress inflicted by Sleep Apnea throughout the night on your body can affect various parts of your cardiovascular health including your blood pressure in an adverse manner. Research has revealed that over 50% of the people who have got Sleep Apnea also have high blood pressure.

The above are some of the major symptoms of Sleep Apnea that you should be aware of. If you are experiencing more than 3 of these symptoms, it is high time that you consult with a reputed sleep dentist and start using oral sleep appliance after consulting with her so that you can ensure a good night’s sleep and great overall health.