Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea.

The main types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs.
Central sleep apnea (CSA), occurs when the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

The symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have.

Symptoms

Loud snoring
Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person
Gasping for air during sleep
Awakening with a dry mouth
Morning headache
Difficulty staying asleep, known as insomnia
Excessive daytime sleepiness, known as hypersomnia
Difficulty paying attention while awake
Irritability.

When to see a doctor

Loud snoring can indicate a potentially serious problem, but not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of sleep apnea.

The best way to check for sleep apnea is to have a sleep study (Polysomnography).