The common sleep apnea symptoms deal with the lack of sleep that many sufferers experience.  When a person experiences sleep apnea or the cessation of breathing during the night, the body will wake itself up just long enough to get breathing again.  Because of the fact that most people who suffer from sleep apnea go back to sleep very quickly they have no idea that they even had a period of time that they were awake.  But this interrupts the natural sleep pattern and doesn’t allow someone to get a full, restful night’s sleep.  So sleep apnea symptoms may include fatigue during the day, daytime drowsiness or dizziness, irritability and mood swings, constant yawning, and falling asleep during inappropriate times.  A lack of sleep can also cause morning headaches and so these too are common sleep apnea symptoms.

Symptoms of sleep apnea can include extremely loud or other types of snoring, and sometimes difficulty breathing during the day.  Sleep apnea symptoms are choking, gasping, wheezing, and snoring, which indicate that the person is not getting enough oxygen while sleeping.  Often these sounds are mistaken for typical snoring when they’re really not.  A tape recorder placed next to your bed can let you hear the sounds you make when you sleep; you can then take the recording to your doctor to be reviewed for potential sleep apnea symptoms.

See a physician if you have any of these sleep apnea symptoms.  You can also make adjustments to help you breathe better at night, such as putting a humidifier in the bedroom and propping yourself up during sleep.  A snore pillow can actually help as these pillows cradle the head and neck and help to keep airway passages open and breathing clear.  But don’t ignore sleep apnea symptoms as this condition is dangerous and in extreme cases, can also be downright deadly.