When a person has sleep apnea, their breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, which can result in low levels of oxygen. Symptoms include daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, and restless sleep.

Most people with sleep apnea have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This happens when there is a physical blockage in the upper airway. Another type, central sleep apnea (CSA), is due to a signaling problem in the nervous system.

When the airway closes, or the signal is held up, the person will stop breathing. This will happen temporarily but repeatedly during sleep. When they breathe again, they may snort, take a deep breath, or awaken completely with a sensation of gasping, smothering, or choking.

Untreated sleep apnea may lead to complications such as heart disease and depression. It can also leave a person feeling drowsy, increasing the risk of accidents while driving or working.

Here, learn more about the symptoms, causes, when to see a doctor, and treatment options.

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A person with sleep apnea may be unaware of their symptoms, but another person may notice that while sleeping the person:

  • stops breathing for a while, followed by a noisy breath
  • gasps for air
  • snores loudly

The individual may notice that they experience:

Click here for more detail on the symptoms, complications, and tests for sleep apnea.

Various factors can contribute to the blocking or collapse of the airway. They include the following:

  • lax muscles and other tissues in the mouth and throat
  • nasal congestion
  • thickened tissues and additional fat stores around the airway
  • an underlying neurological problem

These can result from:

Infants born preterm may have sleep apnea, but this usually resolves with age.

Risk factors for sleep apnea include:

In the United States, Black people, Hispanic people, and Native Americans are more likely to have sleep apnea than white people.

A 2020 study suggests that inflammation may play a role in sleep apnea.

Experts have linked CSA with the following:

  • diseases that affect the central nervous system, such as encephalitis
  • neurological and kidney disorders
  • heart failure
  • stroke
  • acclimatizing to high altitude
  • use of opioids and other depressant drugs
  • recent ascent to high altitude
  • the use of pain relief medication

Sleep apnea may increase the risk of the following:

  • asthma symptoms
  • atrial fibrillation
  • cancer
  • chronic kidney disease
  • ability to focus, memory problems, and other cognitive functions
  • dementia
  • cardiovascular problems due to a reduced oxygen supply
  • pregnancy complications
  • eye disorders, such as glaucoma
  • metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension
  • stroke

There are links between sleep apnea and various health issues, such as difficulty concentrating, depression, heart attack, and stroke. It may also increase the risk of high blood pressure.

The link between the conditions is not always clear, but a person with sleep apnea should seek medical advice, as it may indicate an underlying problem.

The individual may not know that they have sleep apnea, but a sleeping partner or other household member may notice it and can let them know.

Anyone who feels persistently tired or groggy during the day should consult a medical provider to find out why and take steps to address the problem.

The medical provider may start by asking a number of questions, such as:

  • What is your typical sleep schedule on weekdays and weekends?
  • How long does it take you to fall asleep?
  • Are you taking any medications to help you sleep?
  • How much sleep do you think you get each night?
  • Has anyone told you that you snore?
  • Do you wake up with a feeling of panic or jolt awake?
  • How do you feel when you wake up?
  • Do you fall asleep while watching television or reading?
  • Does anyone in your immediate family have a diagnosed sleep disorder?
  • What is your sleep environment like?

Sleep studies

Next, the doctor may recommend a sleep study. The person may sleep overnight at a sleep laboratory while special equipment records brain waves, eye and leg movements, oxygen levels, airflow, and heart rhythm. A sleep specialist will then interprets the results.

Some people can do the test at home. However, if a doctor suspects that a person may have an underlying health condition, they will recommend an in-lab sleep study.

Sleep apnea is a common problem that causes people’s breathing to pause during sleep. It can lead to fatigue and difficulty focusing, and it may be a sign of an underlying condition.

Often a person does not know they have sleep apnea, but someone who lives with them will notice.

Anyone who experiences daytime sleepiness should see a doctor, who can help them find out the reason and the steps to take to solve it.

Read the article in Spanish.