Is It More Than Snoring? Nighttime Signs of a Hidden Health Risk

Occasional snoring happens to virtually everyone. If it’s infrequent, quiet, and regular, it’s not considered a sign of a sleep disorder.

Loud snoring accompanied by breathing disruptions is another matter entirely. It’s a nighttime sign of a hidden health risk called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 

Dr. Andrew R. Freedman and the team at Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC in Monroe, New Jersey, specialize in diagnosing and treating OSA. It's vital to recognize when a problem exists. 

In this blog, we look at some signs that indicate OSA. It’s not always obvious, since you may not realize how your sleep cycles suffer. 

Nighttime signs of OSA

If you have one or more of these symptoms, it’s time to learn more about your chances of having sleep apnea. Some of these indicators are not exclusive to OSA and may be due to other issues, such as medication side effects or other health conditions. 

Loud, persistent snoring

Snoring associated with OSA happens because tissue in your throat's breathing passages relaxes and collapses when you sleep. As air velocity increases, these tissues vibrate when air passes through the narrowing. 

Pauses in breathing

Suddenly waking and gasping for breath can be OSA; however, not every sleep interruption is. Your brain can wake you just enough to shift position and resume breathing. 

Often, it’s a bed partner who notices these interruptions, gasps, or chokes. Take it seriously when they tell you, because you may not have recollection. 

Fragmented sleep

Waking in the middle of the night and being unable to fall back asleep quickly, called insomnia, is a common sleep disorder. While it happens for a variety of reasons, consider OSA as a possible cause, particularly if you have additional sleep apnea symptoms. 

Waking with symptoms

If you’ve slept more than eight hours but still feel tired, your sleep cycle may be the cause. Your body moves through different sleep stages, each essential in balance. 

You may wake with a dry mouth or an immediate headache, both common signs of OSA. Dry mouth comes from breathing through a blocked nose, and headaches come from oxygen deficiency and carbon dioxide buildup. 

Frequent nighttime urination

This frequency might be a curveball, since you wake up to urinate at night for many reasons. Yes, that too can be a symptom of OSA. 

However, if you have no other signs, your issue is more likely to be fluid intake, medication, or another illness. Frequent urination isn’t a primary symptom of OSA, but it can happen along with other effects. 

Watch for these nighttime signs and daytime fatigue when you should be well rested as triggers for investigating OSA. Contact Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC to start the diagnostic process. 

We offer home sleep testing services and a range of treatment options to address your needs and lifestyle. Call or click to book a consultation with Dr. Freedman today.