Obstructive sleep apnea may have some surprising signs and symptoms of the condition.
However, there may be othersymptomsthat suggest the presence of the disorder.
Consider some of these alternative signs and whether the underlying cause might be due to untreatedsleep apnea.
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Depression
There is a lot of overlap between problems with sleep and problems with mood.
Depression, in particular, has a strong association with sleep apnea.
There may be a loss of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable.
Some people experience feelings of guilt about things that they have done or have failed to do.
Low energy levels and poor concentration may also occur.
Appetite may be reduced or increased, leading to weight loss or gain, respectively.
There may even be thoughts of hurting oneself or others.
Problems Thinking
Sleep apnea can have profound effects on your ability to think clearly during the day.
This is sometimes called “brain fog.”
The repeated episodes of disrupted breathing that occur at night fragment sleep.
This fragmentation results in frequent arousals and poor quality sleep.
When this maintenance work is disrupted, sleep is not as refreshing.
This may make someone with sleep apnea feel like their thinking is hazy.
As a result, difficulties with poor concentration, attention issues, and short-term memory problems may occur.
Impotence
Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection may be a sign of sleep apnea.
This impotence can occur due to compromised blood flow or changes in the nervous system that affect the penis.
There are multiple instances in which sleep apnea is known to have cardiovascular consequences.
It may contribute to high blood pressure, heart failure, and even hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
It is believed that sleep apnea causes systemic inflammation.
This may affect blood vessels directly.
In addition, there may be effects on the autonomic nervous system that controls blood flow.
Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure
Sleep apnea contributes to the risk ofdeveloping high blood pressure.
This condition, also called hypertension, can lead to adverse consequences like a heart attack or stroke.
The resulting inflammation affects the whole body.
It also occurs with sleep apnea.
The fragmentation of sleep that occurs may interrupt the release of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).
Normally, this hormone prevents us from peeing at night.
When it is not released, more frequent trips to the bathroom may occur.
Treatment may decrease the need to urinate overnight.
Teeth Grinding
Clenching or grinding of the teeth at night may be a sign of sleep apnea.
Teeth grinding may lead to tooth enamel damage, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, and headaches.
Insufficient sleep quantity often causes symptoms of sleep deprivation.
Excessive daytime sleepiness typically occurs in sleep apnea.
This may make it easy to take naps.
This can also be dangerous, especially if the drowsiness leads to falling asleep while driving.
Heartburn
Nighttimeheartburnor acid reflux can be a sign of sleep apnea.
Many people who experience these episodes also have daytime gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
The esophagus is the muscular tube that leads from the throat to the stomach.
Sleepwalking
This may be one of the strange signs of sleep apnea.
One of the abnormal sleep behaviors, or parasomnias, sleepwalking can be a sign of sleep apnea.
The more complex behaviors may occur when the state of consciousness becomes fractured.
Dry Mouth and Drooling
Two contradictory findings may both suggest sleep apnea: dry mouth anddrooling.
Dry mouth often takes place if the nasal passage is blocked and mouth breathing occurs.
This may be due to allergies, a deviated nasal septum, or even because of a cold.
Somewhat unexpectedly,drooling in your sleepmay suggest the same situation.
Fortunately, effective treatments are available that may help you to sleep and feel better.
If you are concerned, get evaluated by a board-certified sleep physician to undergo testing and start treatment.
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