Sleep apnea - Symptoms and causes
                     Sleep apnea - 
Symptoms 
and causes
Introduction
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which 
breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel 
tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Types of sleep 
apnea
• Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs 
when throat muscles relax
• Central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn't 
send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-
emergent central sleep apnea, which occurs when someone 
has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Symptoms
• Loud snoring
• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which 
would be reported by another person
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Awakening with a dry mouth
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep 
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
When to consult a 
doctor
• Loud snoring can indicate a potentially serious problem, but 
not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Talk to your doctor 
if you have signs or symptoms of sleep apnea. Ask your doctor 
about any sleep problem that leaves you fatigued, sleepy and 
irritable.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Obstructive sleep 
apnea
• This occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. 
These muscles support the soft palate, the triangular piece of 
tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils, the 
side walls of the throat and the tongue.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Central sleep apnea
• This less common form of sleep apnea occurs when your brain 
fails to transmit signals to your breathing muscles. This means 
that you make no effort to breathe for a short period. You 
might awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time 
getting to sleep or staying asleep.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Risk factors of 
Obstructive sleep 
•aEpxcenss eweigaht. Obesity greatly increases the risk of sleep 
apnea. Fat deposits around your upper airway can obstruct 
your breathing.
• Neck circumference. People with thicker necks might have 
narrower airways.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Risk factors of 
Obstructive sleep 
•aAp nanrroweed aairw acy. Yoou nmigtht .have inherited a narrow throat. 
Tonsils or adenoids also can enlarge and block the airway, 
particularly in children.
• Being male. Men are two to three times more likely to have 
sleep apnea than are women. However, women increase their 
risk if they're overweight, and their risk also appears to rise 
after menopause.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Risk factors of Central 
sleep apnea
• Being older: Middle-aged and older people have a higher risk 
of central sleep apnea.
• Being male: Central sleep apnea is more common in men than 
it is in women.
• Heart disorders: Having congestive heart failure increases the 
risk.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org
Complications
• Daytime fatigue: The repeated awakenings associated with 
sleep apnea make normal, restorative sleep impossible, 
making severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability 
likely.
• High blood pressure or heart problems: Sudden drops in blood 
oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood 
pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. 
Source: www.mayoclinic.org