Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that results in repeated and abrupt stopping and starting of breathing during sleep. Because of sleep apnea, one might not feel completely rested even after a full night’s sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome are the three main types.

Let us have a look at some of the early signs and causes of sleep apnea that one must know.

• Snoring
  One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is loud snoring. While some people might just ignore snoring and not associate with a serious health issue, one must visit a doctor if the snoring is persistent and unusual. More often than not, it is one of the early signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. Your bed partner can be of great help in this case, and they can confirm if you were snoring in your sleep and losing breath intermittently. If there is no bed partner, having a restless sleep is one of the most common signs to understand if one has been snoring in sleep.
• Unusual waking up
  There are several symptoms that you notice just as you wake up. If you’re waking up with shortness of breath, the chances are that you are in the early stage of sleep apnea. You might experience choking and gasping for breath. Other signs include waking up multiple times with the urgent need to go to the washroom. One might also wake up having a headache as well as a sore throat or dry mouth. If one does not wake up fresh, one must get himself checked for sleep apnea or other sleeping disorders.
• Having issues while awake
  Some of the problems even persist when one is awake. The most common among these is hypersomnia, which is excessive daytime sleepiness. This is important among early signs and causes of sleep apnea, and one must not ignore its occurrence. Other problems include difficulty with attention and concentration or even having some memory problems. Mood swings are common when you’re suffering from sleep apnea. In addition, a person also tends to become irritable. Sleep apnea majorly impacts the personal and professional lives of individuals.

Causes and risk factors of sleep apnea

• Lifestyle problems
  There are certain risk factors associated with sleep apnea, and if any of these lifestyle and behavioral changes are observed, one must check for sleep apnea. Being overweight or obese, having a drinking problem, or smoking tobacco regularly can also cause sleep apnea.
• Family history
  A family history of sleep apnea is also a common cause for the occurrence of the condition. If someone in the family already has a medical history, one can get oneself checked.
• Medical conditions
  Some of the other medical conditions that can lead to sleep apnea include congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.