What Does Sleep Apnea Feel Like?

Sleep apnea is not talked about enough in medical settings. Because of that, 90% of people who have sleep apnea don’t know it. What’s crazy is that there are some particular symptoms to look out for when it comes to diagnosing sleep apnea. Below are just a few:

Constant Sleepiness

Because your brain doesn’t want your tongue to collapse into the back of your throat and cause you to cut off air supply, your brain will do things to deter you from sleeping well (if at all). This can mean preventing you from sleeping or waking you up frequently at night. This could all be happening without you even realizing it. So, if you think you’re getting enough sleep but still find yourself tired the next day, it could be because of sleep apnea.

Snoring

Snoring is obviously not a symptom you can diagnose yourself, but chances are your partner notices. If you currently don’t share a bed with someone but still want to know if you snore, consider getting an audio recorder to tape your noises while you sleep at night.

Poor Sleep Quality 

This symptom presents itself in a few different ways. People with sleep apnea can have difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or feeling restless at night. Many insomnia patients do suffer from Obstructed Sleep Apnea. Teeth grinding is also a common sign of Obstructed Sleep Apnea, and can lead to poor sleep as well.  Insomnia symptoms are more commonly found in women but can present in men as well, whereas both men and women are affected about the same when it comes to teeth grinding. 

Memory Problems

Good, quality sleep is imperative in helping cognitive function – particularly when it comes to our memory. When we go through the day, our body absorbs thousands of signals and bits of information. When we sleep, our body processes and stores that information – taking it from our short-term memory to our long-term memory. If you are not getting enough sleep, your memory is going to suffer as a result.

Mood Changes 

Mood changes like anxiety and depression are common symptoms of sleep apnea. Unfortunately, these don’t stick out at easily as a symptom like snoring. Ask yourself – are you enjoying things the way you used to? How is your emotional stability compared to a time in your life where you weren’t researching sleep apnea symptoms? If you think you may be suffering from anxiety or depression, please reach out to a mental health professional to seek treatment.

Waking Up to Gasping or Choking

Do you often find yourself waking up gasping for breath or choking? This is one significant sign of sleep apnea. It’s your brain’s way of waking up your body to get airflow back.

Feeling Sick When You Wake Up

There are other signals your body is sending you that could mean you have sleep apnea. Things like waking up with a headache, a sore throat, or a dry mouth are all signs that your night’s sleep wasn’t as peaceful as it should have been.

If these symptoms sound familiar to you, we encourage you to take our sleep apnea screener. It tells us with 92% accuracy whether someone has sleep apnea. The best news is – the CPAP machine is not the only option for treatment. We have other highly successful treatment options we can use for you!