(734) 996-0200Sleep Apnea Signs & Symptoms – Ann Arbor, MI
How to Spot this Common Sleeping Disorder
Does your spouse or partner often complain that you snore loudly at night? Snoring and other sleep apnea signs and symptoms in Ann Arbor, MI are more than just a minor annoyance for whomever is sleeping next to you – these symptoms may also mean you're dealing with a common and serious sleep disorder.
Many individuals discover they are affected by sleep apnea after learning about their snoring habit from their spouse. However, snoring is not the only symptom of the disorder. There are numerous signs and symptoms that can indicate you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea.
Daytime Fatigue & Moodiness
Repeatedly waking up at night due to sleep apnea makes getting the normal, restorative sleep that your body needs impossible. Without the recommended 7 to 9 hours, you are much more likely to experience daytime fatigue and drowsiness.
Daytime fatigue can make is difficult to concentrate and stay awake at the dental office or in the classroom, and your work or academic performance may suffer a result.
Even getting behind the wheel of a car can be dangerous if you suffer from sleep apnea. Research conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that drivers with untreated sleep apnea were FIVE TIMES more likely to get into preventable automobile accidents compared to drivers without the condition.
Sleep apnea can also lead to dramatic mood swings that affect your relationships with others. People suffering from sleep apnea report feeling more irritable, quick-tempered or even depressed on a daily basis.
Waking Up at Night
Adults with severe sleep apnea can sometimes wake up hundreds of times a night – for a few seconds each time – to gasp for air. If this happens to you, you may not even wake up fully and realize what is happening.
However, for many people, waking up fully at night is a common symptom of their sleep apnea. If any of the following circumstances apply to you, you may be suffering from sleep apnea:
- Waking up choking, gasping, or with shortness of breath
- Waking up often to use the bathroom
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Waking up with a headache
Signs & Symptoms for Children
Sleep apnea does not only affect adults but can disrupt children’s nightly rest as well. In fact, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association, up to 4% of children ages 2 to 8 suffer from sleep apnea. Untreated pediatric sleep disorders can take a heavy toll a child’s growth and development, so it is important for parents to know the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in children. Those signs include:
- Difficulty learning and poor performance at school
- Poor attention span inside and outside the classroom
- Feeling consistently sleepy or drowsy during the day
- Snoring at night
- Bedwetting
- Mouth breathing – both while asleep and when awake
- Pauses in breathing while sleeping
Get in Touch with Us
If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of sleep apnea in Ann Arbor listed above, we encourage you to get in touch with Dr. James Olsen today to discuss treatment options. In many cases, Dr. Olsen can administer oral appliance therapy to relieve your symptoms and ensure you get the good night’s rest that your body and mind needs.