Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
The most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is loud snoring, often noticed by your sleep partner first. However, not everyone who snores has OSA.
Each sufferer of OSA experiences different symptoms, ranging from mild to more severe signs. Diagnosing yours or a loved one’s sleep apnea can be done by visiting a sleep specialist for an overnight sleep study. Our team can help you find the right doctor to receive a proper diagnosis.
Common symptoms of OSA to look out for include:
- Loud, disruptive snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Gasping for air at night
- Insomnia
- Excessive daytime fatigue
- Memory loss
- Unusual moodiness or irritability
- Frequent urination at night
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth
Common Risk Factors of OSA
Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age. Although not as common in younger patients, OSA may still affect children. Here at our Basalt dental office, we typically see older patients with sleep apnea because they’re at a higher risk than others.
Men are also two to three times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women. Although, the risk for women increases if they’re obese or going through menopause.
Other common risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Large neck circumference
- A narrowed airway
- Family history
- Overuse of alcohol or sedatives
- Smoking tobacco
- Nasal congestion
Untreated OSA Can Lead to Major Health Risks
Ignoring your OSA symptoms or putting off treatment for your condition may not seem like a big deal at the moment, but it can become detrimental to your health in the long run.
Nearly 80 percent of moderate to severe OSA cases go undiagnosed, resulting in major health risks or sometimes the loss of life.
Some major health complications often associated with OSA include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Irregular heartbeats
- Type 2 diabetes
- Liver problems
- Depression
- Erectile & sexual dysfunction