Am I at risk?
Sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to stop breathing during sleep, is associated with several other health problems. If you have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, or mood disorders, you could be at risk. The good news is that sleep apnea is treatable and treating your sleep apnea could improve your other health conditions.
A major risk factor for sleep apnea is being overweight. If you have a body mass index of 30 or higher, that increases your risk. A large neck size, 17+ inches for men and 16+ inches for women, also increases your risk of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can occur at any time but is more common between young adulthood and middle age. Sleep apnea is more common in men.
Sleep apnea affects your nights and days
Sleep apnea has symptoms during sleep and in the daytime.
Common symptoms during sleep include:
- Loud snoring
- Pauses in breathing or gasping for breath
- Waking often to use the bathroom
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Unrefreshing sleep
During the day, people with sleep apnea may experience:
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Moodiness and irritability
- Decreased sexual desire or difficulty maintaining an erection
- Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
- Drowsy driving
If you have these health conditions, risk factors, and/or nighttime or daytime symptoms of sleep apnea, talk to a medical provider about being screened for sleep apnea
If you are experiencing any sleep challenges, like snoring at night or feeling sleepy during the day, talk to your doctor and ask to be screened for sleep apnea.