What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

People with sleep apnea may have difficulty noticing their symptoms because they are so similar to the symptoms of stress, lack of sleep, and other situations that we all deal with at some point in our lives. The most obvious symptom is that you wake up multiple times per night gasping or choking; but due to the lack of sleep, most people with sleep apnea will not remember doing this. That’s why if you do not share a bed with someone who can point this symptom out to you, it’s important to recognize the other symptoms of sleep apnea.

The most common sleep apnea symptoms are:

• Loud snoring
• Waking up gasping for air or choking
• Having headaches in the morning
• Difficulty concentrating during the day
• Excessive daytime sleepiness or exhaustion
• Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
• Unexplained changes in mood, like depression or anxiety
• Sudden short temper or irritability
• Unusually low sex drive
• Difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep
• TMJ disorders (pain in the joint that connects your lower jaw to your face)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Shapiro today. With his decades of experience, Dr. Shapiro can help determine if sleep apnea is the cause of your symptoms and develop a treatment plan for you.