Sleep apnea is a common, serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing while a person is asleep. These breathing pauses, or apneas, can last from a few seconds to minutes and may occur many times throughout the night. It is typically the bed partner who first recognizes the signs of this condition, as the person with the disorder is often unaware of their disrupted sleep. Recognizing these indicators is the first step toward seeking a diagnosis and preventing serious long-term health complications.
Identifying the Key Nighttime Indicators
The most immediate sign a partner might have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is loud, persistent snoring. The snoring associated with OSA is often chronic and loud, produced when air struggles to pass through a narrowed upper airway. This causes the surrounding soft tissues to vibrate.
A more specific indicator is a pattern of silence that abruptly interrupts the loud snoring. These quiet periods occur when the airway has collapsed or become blocked, causing breathing to stop for ten seconds or longer. The silence is then broken by a loud snort, gasp, or choking sound as the brain signals the body to resume breathing. This cycle prevents the person from entering deep, restorative sleep.
The repeated arousals often manifest as restless sleep. A partner may exhibit excessive tossing and turning, thrashing movements, or kicking during the night. These movements are the body’s attempt to change position and temporarily open the airway to restore airflow. Observing episodes where breathing visibly stops or is labored provides direct evidence of the disorder.
Recognizing the Daytime Warning Signs
The fragmented sleep has clear consequences that spill into the partner’s waking hours. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a prominent symptom, causing the person to struggle to stay awake in low-stimulus situations. This constant fatigue leads to grogginess and a pervasive sense of being drained.
A partner may frequently complain of waking up with a dry mouth or a sore throat, often because the obstruction forces them to breathe through their mouth while sleeping. Morning headaches that fade as the day progresses are also common, potentially resulting from fluctuating oxygen and carbon dioxide levels during the night.
The lack of quality sleep also affects cognitive function and mood. Frequent complaints include difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and mental sluggishness, often described as “brain fog.” Chronic sleep disruption can also lead to a noticeable increase in irritability, mood changes, anxiety, or depression.
Understanding the Serious Health Implications
Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of various systemic health problems. The repeated drops in blood oxygen levels during apneic episodes place significant strain on the cardiovascular system. This constant stress can lead to chronic high blood pressure (hypertension).
The disorder is strongly associated with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events. These include heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Sleep apnea can also contribute to irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, which further elevates stroke risk. Additionally, the disorder is linked to metabolic dysfunction, increasing the risk of developing insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
Next Steps: Consulting a Professional and Diagnosis
If the nighttime and daytime signs suggest a potential problem, the first step is to consult a primary care physician. The physician may refer the partner to a sleep specialist for further assessment. A sleep specialist will typically recommend a sleep study, known as polysomnography (PSG), which is the standard for diagnosis.
A PSG may be conducted overnight in a sleep center or, in certain cases, at home. During the study, the partner is connected to equipment that monitors several physiological functions:
- Brain waves
- Heart rate
- Blood oxygen levels
- Eye and leg movements
- Breathing patterns
The data collected allows specialists to calculate an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which quantifies the number of breathing interruptions per hour to determine the severity of the disorder.
Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the most common and effective treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. A CPAP machine delivers pressurized air through a mask worn over the nose or mouth, which keeps the upper airway open during sleep. The sleep specialist may also discuss other options, such as oral appliances or lifestyle changes.