Symptoms of sleep apnea

If you have the following symptoms, you should be wary of having sleep apnea (OSA).

Body representation

• Patients are generally obese, with a large neck circumference, a large tongue, and a narrow oropharynx; some may have a retruded or narrow mandible and a low-positioned hyoid bone.
• A small number of people may have problems such as enlarged tonsils, excessive adenoid hyperplasia, an excessively long soft palate or uvula, or an excessively high hard palate.

Daytime symptoms

Because OSA patients experience oxygen deprivation at night due to airway obstruction, they may also unconsciously breathe through their mouths. As a result, they may wake up during the day feeling dry mouth and unusual fatigue, and even experiencing anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and anger. Other common symptoms include poor concentration and slow reaction time.

Nighttime symptoms

Generally, people with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) usually snore habitually, and the most obvious symptom is involuntary breathing pauses. In addition, light sleep, frequent dreams, poor sleep quality, and frequent trips to the toilet during the night are all symptoms of sleep apnea.

severe symptoms of sleep apnea狀

Severe sleep apnea can lead to various neurological disorders due to long-term poor sleep quality. Mild cases may result in memory loss, while severe cases can easily lead to dementia and severe depression. Repeated oxygen deprivation during sleep can accelerate the aging and apoptosis of tissues and organs, and even promote cell carcinogenesis. Abnormal airway resistance can lead to excessive respiratory drive, increasing oxygen demand. Over time, this can disrupt the body's endocrine system, potentially causing various diseases and complications.