Sleep Disorders

Apnea

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing is interrupted for periods of 10 seconds or more while you are asleep. These interruptions may occur hundreds of times a night, causing you to gasp for air and disrupting your sleep.

Some common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Restless sleep
• Loud, heavy snoring often interrupted by silence and gasps
• Drowsiness or lack of energy, caused by the lack of sleep
• Headaches in the morning
• Irritability, forgetfulness, mood or behavior changes
• Anxiety or depression

There are two main types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea -- This type of sleep apnea is typically caused by an airway blockage and is more common. It occurs when the muscles in the wall of the throat relax during sleep, causing the walls to collapse and obstruct airflow.

• Central Sleep Apnea -- Believed to be related to a malfunction of the brain's normal signal to breathe, with this type of sleep apnea the level of carbon dioxide in the blood rises, which may cause you to wake up.

If sleep apnea is not treated, it can lead to other serious health problems, including:

• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Heart related conditions such as coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and stroke
• Psychiatric problems such as depression
• Impotence and lack of interest in sex
• Cognitive dysfunction or memory loss

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated November 4, 2007