Sleep apnea is a serious sleep-related breathing disorder that can affect both children and adults. People with sleep apnea experience repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, often lasting 10 seconds or longer, which can interrupt healthy sleep cycles and place stress on the heart and body.
Understanding the signs of sleep apnea is an important first step. When left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to long-term health risks and ongoing fatigue that impacts daily life.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. These breathing pauses can happen many times per hour and may prevent the body from reaching deep, restorative sleep.
Because sleep apnea often occurs without the person fully realizing it, many individuals go undiagnosed for years.
What Are the Most Common Signs of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea symptoms can look different from person to person, but there are several common warning signs to watch for.
Common sleep apnea symptoms in adults include:
- Loud snoring that disrupts others’ sleep
- Waking up suddenly gasping, coughing, or choking
- Rapid heartbeat upon waking
- Morning headaches
- Feeling tired even after a full night of sleep
- Daytime sleepiness or falling asleep unexpectedly
- Difficulty focusing, memory problems, or brain fog
- Mood changes such as irritability or impatience
- Unexpected weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Acid reflux, especially at night or in the morning
Common sleep apnea symptoms in children include:
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD-like) symptoms
- Bed-wetting
- Behavioral changes, moodiness, or irritability
- Poor focus or trouble in school
Why Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous If Left Untreated?
Sleep apnea is more than just snoring. Without proper treatment, it can raise the risk of serious health conditions and chronic fatigue.
Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Increased risk of serious complications over time
Since sleep apnea reduces oxygen levels repeatedly during the night, the body is forced into a constant stress response, which can affect overall health.
What Causes Breathing to Stop During Sleep?
In many cases, sleep apnea worsens when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much during sleep. When this happens, the tongue and surrounding tissues may shift backward and partially block the airway.
This can cause the lower jaw to retract, narrowing the airway and making it harder to breathe normally.
What Happens During a Sleep Apnea Episode?
During an apnea episode, the airway becomes blocked or breathing slows dramatically. This causes the body’s oxygen level to drop.
As the oxygen level decreases:
- Blood pressure increases
- The heart rate speeds up as the body tries to compensate
- The brain triggers the body to wake up briefly to restart breathing
Many episodes end with a loud snort, gasp, or choking sound as breathing resumes. The person often falls back asleep quickly and may not remember waking up, but these repeated interruptions prevent deep, restorative sleep.
Apnea episodes can:
- Lasts from about 10 seconds to more than a minute
- Occur dozens (or even hundreds) of times per night
Why Does Sleep Apnea Affect Energy and Sleep Quality?
Even if someone spends enough hours in bed, sleep apnea prevents the body from staying in deeper stages of sleep long enough to recover properly.
That’s why people with sleep apnea often experience:
- Constant fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Reduced concentration
- Mood changes
- Poor productivity and focus during the day
If you suspect sleep apnea, getting evaluated is essential. Recognizing and addressing sleep apnea is vital for maintaining good health and well-being, so if you notice these symptoms in yourself or your child, contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apnea can affect both children and adults and often goes undiagnosed for years. Below are common questions patients ask when they suspect sleep-related breathing concerns.
How Do I Know If Snoring Is A Sign Of Sleep Apnea?
Snoring alone does not always mean sleep apnea, but loud, frequent snoring combined with fatigue, morning headaches, or gasping during sleep can be a strong warning sign.
Can Sleep Apnea Affect Children Differently Than Adults?
Yes. Children may not always seem “tired” the way adults do. Instead, sleep apnea in kids can show up as poor focus, behavior changes, irritability, school struggles, or ADHD-like symptoms.
Why Do People With Sleep Apnea Wake Up Gasping Or Choking?
This can happen when the airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep. As oxygen levels drop, the brain briefly wakes the body up to restart breathing, often with a gasp or snort.
Why Does Sleep Apnea Increase Health Risks Over Time?
Sleep apnea places the body under repeated stress while sleeping. Over time, this constant strain has been linked to serious concerns such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
What Should I Do If I Notice Sleep Apnea Symptoms In Myself Or My Child?
If symptoms are present, the next step is a professional evaluation. Identifying sleep apnea early helps prevent long-term health risks and improves sleep quality, energy, and daily functioning.
