Symptoms of Sleep Apnea – Mesa

Recognize the Symptoms of OSA

Man asleep on a couch

Approximately ¾ of people who have obstructive sleep apnea haven’t been formally diagnosed with the condition. Many don’t even realize that they need to seek help. This is in part due to how difficult it can be to recognize the signs and symptoms of the condition. You could feel like you aren’t getting quality sleep without making the connection to sleep apnea. Read on to learn about some of the common symptoms of sleep apnea, how to recognize them, and when you should seek help from a sleep apnea dentist.

How to Identify the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Woman asleep on a train

Identifying the symptoms of sleep apnea isn’t as easy as it sounds. If you sleep in your bed alone and don’t have a sleeping partner pointing out your symptoms, it can take a while to realize that something is wrong. The best way to narrow your symptoms down is to write down how you are feeling each day. You should also make note of whether your symptoms are occasional or chronic. If your symptoms are not showing any improvement or are worsening, it’s a good idea to reach out to a sleep apnea dentist for help.

Most Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Man laying in bed

A very common and more obvious sign of sleep apnea is loud snoring. If you have a sleeping partner or a roommate, they are likely to notice this right away. However, snoring isn’t the only symptom of sleep apnea, and sleep apnea isn’t the only reason for snoring. Here are a few symptoms that you should be taking note of as you experience them:

  • Daytime Fatigue: If you feel tired during the day, even after you’ve gone to bed at a decent time, it is likely that you aren’t staying completely asleep throughout the night. When this happens for many days, weeks, or months in a row, you can develop more extreme symptoms, like mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss.
  • Morning Headaches: When you repetitively stop breathing while you sleep, less oxygen reaches your brain. This can result in the blood vessels expanding, leaving you with frequent headaches. If this becomes a regular occurrence, you should bring it up with your doctor.
  • High Blood Pressure: When you aren’t getting enough oxygen during sleep, it can put a strain on your heart. This increases your risk of cardiovascular complications, like high blood pressure. This is one of the reasons why your dentist takes your blood pressure at the beginning of your appointments.

Next Steps for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Woman speaking to a doctor

At GoTo Sleep Center for CPAP Alternatives, we have a team of sleep apnea dentists serving the Mesa area. We are looking forward to meeting you, discussing your symptoms, and putting together a treatment plan to help you achieve quality sleep each night. If you notice that you have one or more of the symptoms above, or you have other concerns that you think could be related to sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly team members.

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