Awake while sleeping? Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Having obstructive sleep apnea can be very scary. It can be very scary because experts estimate that there are 12 million undiagnosed cases of sleep apnea in the United States every year.Apparently we choose to ignore the symptoms of sleep apnea, instead of educating ourselves.

So what are the symptoms of sleep apnea? Pretty simple. There are ten major symptoms

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Loud or disruptive snoring
• Gasping/choking during sleep
• Morning headaches
• Dry or sore throat
• Irritability
• Loss of energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Weight gain
• High blood pressure

In addition, studies have shown that men suffer from sleep apnea about two to one over women. Also, folks who have high blood pressure, are overweight and have a narrower than normal airway tend to experience sleep apnea symptoms more than others.

So, if you suffer from these symptoms, don’t be an ostrich! Get your head out of the sand and get checked out! Take our sleep apnea risk survey and get started NOW!

Extraordinary Snoring

Be sure to read the September Mayo Clinic Health Letter, which offers several ways to treat ordinary snoring. Suggested treatments include:

• losing weight


• avoiding alcohol


• relieving nasal obstruction


• changing sleep positions


• stopping smoking


• trying assistive devices


• considering surgery

These suggestions are fine ways to help ordinary snorers, but, as Mayo Clinic suggests, snoring can be symptomatic of serious health issues.

Do you have apnea?

If you suspect that your snoring might be out of the ordinary, consider taking a sleep quiz or survey to determine whether you may have a serious disorder such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). 

OSA can only be diagnosed with sleep testing

You've probably heard about sleep testing in an overnight sleep center, but did you know that you can test at home instead? One nationally recognized, FDA-approved home sleep test to consider is NovaSom, a diagnostic tool that allows you to easily apply unobtrusive sensors before going to sleep. NovaSom is available by prescription only, so consult your physician to determine whether it meets your needs.

For more information on sleep apnea, visit http://www.apnea.com/.

Source: Mayo Clinic, "Ways to Quiet Ordinary Snoring"