The most common form of sleep apnoea is obstructive sleep apnoea. It is more common than many people realise, because so many of its sufferers are unaware that anything is wrong. In fact, for many patients, it is a concerned partner who has endured night after night of interrupted sleep who first raises concerns.
One of the main symptoms of sleep apnoea is snoring. Although it is true that most sufferers do snore, that does not mean that all snorers have the disorder. Gentle snoring is common for many people and is not necessarily something to worry about. The snoring of OSA patients is normally punctuated with apnoeas: interruptions in breathing. These gaps in breathing mean that the sufferer's snoring is often punctuated with loud gasps and snorts.
In fact, these snorts are the gasps for breath of the sufferer who has momentarily woken after their brain has realised that their breathing has stopped. The condition may, as a result of snoring and blocked airways through the night, result in a sore or dry throat on waking.
Although patients do not normally have any recollection of the many moments of wakefulness they have experienced, they do often feel tired through the day, as though they have had a poor night's sleep. The general feeling of tiredness is something that some sufferers become accustomed to, causing a further barrier to the condition being spotted and diagnosed.
As a result of the tiredness caused by the condition, people with OSA often find that they are unable to concentrate as hard or think as clearly as they would expect. They may also find that they are irritable or snappy, with a shorter temper and less patience than they would normally expect. These symptoms can, of course, make the condition problematic for family and friends and may mean that OSA can affect relationships and family life.
As even non-sufferers can testify, headaches are often a consequence of being overly tired. This is another common symptom of OSA, although they are particularly prevalent in the mornings. Unfortunately, sleep apnoea may also increase a patient's likelihood of suffering from anxiety or depression, further impacting their life and relationships.
The many different sleep apnoea symptoms are very varied and this, in part, makes the condition difficult to diagnose. Patients who suspect that they are suffering with the condition should, in the first instance, contact their GP, who may choose to refer them to a sleep specialist.
To find out more about sleep apnoea symptoms, visit the DeVilbiss Healthcare website, which has resources for patients and professionals.
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