Do I Have Sleep Apnea?

Do I Have Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common condition. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea affects more than 18 million adults in the sleep apneaUnited States. Is it affecting you? At Arthur H. Katz, MD, there is an outstanding sleep apnea treatment specialist. He has offices in Munster, IN, Merrillville, IN, and Olympia Fields, IL. Watch for these five common sleep apnea symptoms.

1. Loud Snoring

One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is loud and chronic snoring. Snoring is noisy breathing during sleep. Over time, the snoring can occur more often and get louder. Snoring can cause disruptions to your sleep and your partner's sleep.​

2. Pauses in Breathing

Sleep apnea causes repeated awakenings and pauses in breathing, accompanied with gasping episodes when sleeping. According to Huffington Post, pauses in breathing may occur 30 times or more per hour. Pauses in breathing can last from a few seconds to minutes. Typically, normal breathing then begins again, sometimes with a choking sound or loud snort.

3. Daytime Sleepiness

Another common symptom of sleep apnea is sleepiness during the day. You may find yourself falling asleep during the moments of the day when you are not active. People with excessive daytime sleepiness are at risk of work-related and motor vehicle accidents.​

4. Mood Swings

Feeling moody? Other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include irritability, depression, personality changes, emotional lability, or mood swings. Many people have found relief from mood swings when they address and treat their sleep apnea.​

5. Morning Headaches

Sleep apnea can cause morning headaches. These morning headaches result from significant changes within the bloodstream as a result of airway obstruction. Mild sleep apnea, however, does not usually cause morning headaches.

You can stop sleep apnea today! Call Dr. Arthur Katz to schedule an appointment in Munster, IN, Merrillville, IN, or Olympia Fields, IL. Untreated sleep apnea can be dangerous to your health, so it's important to see seek help.