Sleep Apnea
Quick answer: Sleep apnea is a common, under-diagnosed disorder in which breathing stops repeatedly during sleep, sometimes 30 times an hour or more. Warning signs include loud snoring with pauses, waking up gasping, daytime sleepiness, and morning headaches. Left untreated it raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis requires a sleep test; for most otherwise healthy adults an at-home sleep study is enough, and Capital ENT's sleep specialists can arrange one and guide treatment.
Sleep apnea is a common and, too often, under-diagnosed sleep disorder (global prevalence analysis). It occurs when your breathing ceases numerous times while you are asleep (that's what apnea means: the halt of breathing). In fact, it can cause you to stop breathing 30 times an hour or more.
Signs You Might Have Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea often goes undetected because its most obvious symptoms happen while you're asleep. Watch for these warning signs:
- Loud, chronic snoring, especially if your partner notices pauses in your breathing
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue, even after a full night's rest
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- Irritability or mood changes
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
Who Is at Risk?
While sleep apnea can affect anyone, certain factors increase your risk:
- Excess weight, particularly around the neck
- A naturally narrow airway or large tonsils
- Being male (though women are also affected, especially after menopause)
- Age: risk increases as you get older
- Family history of sleep apnea
- Use of alcohol or sedatives, which relax throat muscles
Why Diagnosis Matters
Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The repeated drops in blood oxygen levels put significant strain on your cardiovascular system over time.
If you think you or a loved one may have this disorder, Capital ENT & Sinus Center's sleep experts strongly encourage you to schedule a sleep evaluation. For most otherwise healthy adults with typical symptoms, a home sleep study is enough to make the diagnosis (AASM diagnostic guideline). If you have significant heart or lung disease, a neuromuscular condition, a history of stroke, or use opioid medication, or if a home test is negative or inconclusive, an in-lab sleep study is recommended instead. The results guide us toward the right treatment plan for you (AASM treatment guideline).
This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace an in-person evaluation. Every patient is unique. Schedule a consultation to discuss your specific symptoms and treatment options.
Think You Might Have Sleep Apnea?
Capital ENT's sleep specialists offer convenient at-home sleep studies and comprehensive treatment options.