Do I Have Sleep Apnea?

By Richard Nass, M.D.
August 17, 2016
Category: ENT Health
Tags: Sleep Apnea  

Sleep apnea can affect men, women, and children of all ages. Characterized by frequent pauses in breathing while you sleep, it can sleep apnealead to a host of serious health complications if it goes undetected or untreated. Here are a few common signs that you might be suffering from sleep apnea.

6 Signs You Might Have Sleep Apnea

1. You find yourself excessively irritable, fatigued, or foggy-feeling throughout the day. This could be a sign of poor oxygenation while you sleep, which prevents your body from recharging properly and slowly drains your mental and physical sharpness.

2. Your family or roommates are concerned about your snoring. Snoring is not always associated with sleep apnea, but it is a common symptom--especially if your snoring stops for several seconds or minutes, then begins again suddenly with a gasping or choking sound.

3. You wake during the night feeling like you’re choking. This is a sign that your breathing might have stopped while you were sleeping, so your body is desperately needing to breathe by the time you wake up.

4. You wake up with a headache. A good night’s sleep should relieve an aching head, not cause it. Headaches upon waking can mean that your brain isn’t receiving enough oxygen while you sleep.

5. You are overweight. Being overweight is a known risk factor for sleep apnea. Particularly if your neck circumference is greater than 16 inches for women or 17 inches for men, you’re at higher risk for sleep apnea due to a buildup of fatty tissue around your throat.

6. You have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to sleep apnea. When you aren’t receiving adequate oxygen during sleep, your body must try harder to oxygenate all the tissues. This results in a rise in blood pressure that can persist as a chronic health condition.

Keep in mind that the below symptoms are just examples, and there are several different types of sleep apnea with different characteristics. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with your Manhattan ENT as soon as possible.

Manhattan Sleep Apnea Treatment

Above are just a few of the many possible symptoms and risk factors for sleep apnea. If you think that you or someone you know might have sleep apnea, don’t delay in finding out for sure--your health depends on it. For sleep apnea treatment in Manhattan, schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Nass or call (212) 734-4515 today.