What are the key symptoms of Sleep Apnoea?
If you or someone close to you has symptoms, which may be associated with Sleep Apnoea, it is important to discuss your concerns with you GP, your family doctor.
Symptoms can be divided into: Nighttime symptoms and Daytime symptoms.
Nighttime Symptoms
- Snoring may be loud, coming and going, throughout the night.
Interruptions in breathing, which may include stopping and starting of normal breathing patterns. - Noises which sound like gasping, snorting, or choking during sleep
- Restlessness in bed while asleep with repeated spontaneous awakenings or symptoms of insomnia.
- Waking up with a sore or dry throat, which may be associated with mouth breathing unexplained night sweats.
Daytime Symptoms
- Excessive daytime tiredness, sleepiness or fatigue, even after a full night’s sleep.
- Wakening up with an unexplained headache in the morning.
- Progressive difficulty in daytime concentration or poor mental unctioning.
- Unexplained mood swings or growing irritability
- Becoming progressively forgetful of things which were previously easily recalled.
- A progressive decrease in interest in partner intimacy.
- Occasionally dizzy when waking up.
- Falling asleep regularly when engaged in activities like reading, watching TV or in the cinema.
This list is not exhaustive.
Often people with sleep apnoea may not know they have it. The most obvious symptoms of Sleep Apnoea occur during sleep and it may often be a partner who first notices nighttime symptoms.
Pauses in breathing can recur several times at night, this progressive symptom is expressed in many ways, specifically associated with daytime tiredness, despite having slept for many hours overnight.
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with your GP.
Your GP can refer you to a Medical Sleep specialist contact@sleephealthclinic.ie for a precise assessment, including sleep testing, a diagnosis and appropriate treatment, to best manage your symptoms and your diagnosis, key steps to managing your symptoms.
