Overview
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the throat repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, briefly stopping breathing many times a night. It causes loud snoring, gasping and restless, unrefreshing sleep, and leaves people very tired by day. Beyond poor sleep, untreated apnea raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and accidents. It is more common with being overweight, and effective treatments range from weight loss to a sleep breathing machine.
Symptoms
- Loud snoring with pauses and gasping
- Waking unrefreshed despite a full night's sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches and dry mouth
- Poor concentration and irritability
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you snore loudly with pauses, wake gasping, or feel very sleepy by day — a sleep study can diagnose it.
Causes
Relaxation and narrowing of the throat during sleep, more likely with being overweight, a large neck, enlarged tonsils, and alcohol or sedatives at night.