People with obstructive sleep apnea have difficulty reaching the deep stages of sleep that are needed to refresh the body. They frequently wake up and feel tired after a night of interrupted, fragmented, low-quality sleep. This interferes with normal blood oxygen levels and causes carbon dioxide buildup, which leads to repeated pauses in breathing that result in loud snoring. In addition, repeated episodes of low oxygen levels strain the heart and lead to high blood pressure. They also increase the risk for heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), including sudden death.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms include snoring and feelings of being restless or choking when sleeping. In some cases, these episodes cause a person to wake up abruptly and start breathing normally again. But in others, the pauses and breathlessness last longer or happen repeatedly over time.

The disorder is most common in overweight people whose extra weight puts more pressure on the upper airway. But it can affect people of all sizes and can even occur in children. Obstructive sleep apnea also can run in families. People with a family history of the condition are 2 to 3 times more likely to have it than people who don’t have a family history of it. Men are more likely to have it than women, and the risk rises after a man reaches puberty or a woman becomes postmenopausal.

Treatment can help alleviate obstructive sleep apnea and reduce its negative health consequences. The most widely used therapy is a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine, which applies a steady stream of air pressure to the nose and mouth while you sleep to keep the upper airway open.