The severity of symptoms and complications of obstructive sleep apnea varies between individuals. Loud snoring is a common symptom, but not all people who snore have the airway obstruction and periods of not breathing (apnea) that are characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.
Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are due to relaxation of the soft tissues of the throat during sleep. These tissues hang down blocking the trachea (windpipe) and obstruct the flow of air into the lungs. Breathing then stops for a significant period of time, two minutes or more. Eventually oxygen levels drop in the body from not breathing, which triggers the sleeping person to rouse enough to take some normal breaths. They then fall back into a deeper sleep. When the persons stirs, they may experience sensations of choking or shortness of breath, but they often have no memory of the cycle of obstructive sleep apnea. This cycle can occur as much as 20 to 30 times an hour and be very disruptive to sleep and health.
Low levels of oxygen in the body (hypoxia) can be significant enough for some people to develop cyanosis (blueness of the skin). Other symptoms can include sleepiness in the day due to a lack of good quality sleep and sleep deprivation.
Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to depression, problems with concentration, incoordination and poor memory. It can also result in irritability and a risk of falling asleep at inappropriate and dangerous times, such as during driving, at dinner or at work meetings. This can result in motor vehicle collisions and problems with work and relationships. The noise that people with obstructive sleep apnea make during snoring can also seriously disrupt the sleep of others and lead to or aggravate relationship problems.
Hypoxia can result in such serious complications as irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, and can contribute to hypertension and heart attack in people with underlying heart disease....more about Obstructive sleep apnea »
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Obstructive sleep apnea includes the 34 symptoms listed below:
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Onset of Obstructive sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is observed in children of all ages and may develop even in infancy.
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The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Obstructive sleep apnea. This signs and symptoms information for Obstructive sleep apnea has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Obstructive sleep apnea signs or Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Obstructive sleep apnea may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
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