The frequent awakenings at night that are associated with obstructive sleep apnea result in a lack of restorative sleep. Those who undergo this, often experience drowsiness during daytime, irritability, and fatigue. They find it very difficult to concentrate at work and often fall asleep while at work or watching TV while driving or even in the most entertaining moments. It is to be noted that even children have increased chances of experiencing this and could commonly be noted as attention deficit or having behavioral problems. If you have a snoring issue, you must watch out for the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea.

Common signs of sleep apnea in adults
The common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Snoring loudly
• Your bed partner says that you snore a lot and also stop breathing when you are asleep
• You wake up due to shortness in breath and you gasp for air
• You urinate frequently at night
• You wake up with a headache
• You have restlessness and largely carry an irritated disposition
• You find it difficult to concentrate on anything
• You have sleeplessness at night and excess sleeping tendency during the day
• You are experiencing memory loss
• You less or no interest in physical intimacy

Signs of sleep apnea in children between 5 to 10 years
It is estimated that 3% of the kids’ population may have sleep apnea and 10-25% of children who snore may potentially be having this disorder. When sleep apnea is not treated in children, it could result in adaptive, behavioral and learning issues and could largely resemble the symptoms of ADHD. Some of the early warning signs are:

• Snoring
• Breathing through the mouth – both while asleep and awake
• Pause in breath while asleep
• Bedwetting
• Sleeping during the day
• Poor attention span
• Poor performance at the school
• Difficulty in learning or retaining information
• Irritability
• Poor appetite

Signs of sleep apnea in toddlers
Watch out for the following signs if you think your toddler may have the sleep disorder:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Snoring
• Restlessness
• Fidgeting
• Coughing or frequent choking
• Sweating (profuse sweats)
• Susceptible to quick irritability, frustration and gets cranky soon
• Sleep at inappropriate times
• Tonsil related health problems
• Overall growth at the body level is slower than what it ideally should (in terms of height and weight)
• Loss of appetite

Whether you are an adult looking at a solution for sleep apnea for yourself or for your child, ask yourself the following questions to find out its signs and symptoms:

• What is your normal sleep schedule during weekdays and weekends and how often does it get disturbed?
• How long does it take for you to fall asleep? Do you even take any medication to get sleep?
• How good is your sleep? Do you feel relaxed in the morning? Are you motivated to carry on with your daily chores after a good night’s sleep?
• Has your partner told you about your snoring? Does this comment reach your ear very frequently?
• Do you wake up in the middle of sleep with panic or a jolt as if someone is choking you?
• Does anyone in your immediate family has even been diagnosed with a sleep disorder?
• Do you fall asleep when doing even your favorite activity during the day?

If the answer to the above questions is not positive enough, you should consult a physician immediately. If it is a child who has the sleep disorder, do not waste even a day reaching out for treatment.