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March 05, 2025
Sleep is essential for overall health, but for millions of people, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is silently disrupting their rest and leading to serious health concerns. This common but often undiagnosed sleep disorder can cause repeated breathing interruptions during sleep, leaving you exhausted and increasing your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. Up to one in four men and one in eight women have sleep apnea.
So, how do you know if you have sleep apnea? If you experience these seven key signs, it may be time to speak with a doctor.
Snoring isn’t just an annoyance—it can be a warning sign of sleep apnea. If your snoring is loud, persistent, and frequently interrupted by gasps or choking sounds, your airway may be partially blocked during sleep. Partners or family members often notice these disturbances before you do. Snoring is a loose correlate with apnea, and by itself is not a guarantee of sleep apnea being present or absent (hence the need for further investigation).
If you’ve ever woken up feeling like you can’t breathe or having a panic attack, this is a red flag. These episodes occur because your airway closes during sleep, causing oxygen levels to drop and triggering your body to wake up momentarily. You may not always remember these awakenings if they are partial (not full wake ups), but they can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night. Every time an apnea event occurs, it jerks your brain away from deep sleep into stress alarm mode.
Feeling exhausted during the day even after a full night’s rest? Sleep apnea repeatedly interrupts your sleep cycles, preventing deep, restorative sleep. This leads to chronic daytime fatigue, brain fog, and even falling asleep at inappropriate times (like at work or while driving).
Frequent morning headaches could indicate low oxygen levels and poor sleep quality caused by sleep apnea. When your breathing stops repeatedly throughout the night, your brain will receive less oxygen, possibly leading to headaches upon waking.
Untreated sleep apnea puts significant stress on your cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure). When your oxygen levels drop, your body releases stress hormones, which cause blood vessels to constrict and raise your blood pressure. If you have resistant hypertension that doesn’t improve with medication, sleep apnea may be to blame.
Sleep deprivation affects more than just energy levels—it can impact your mood, concentration, and emotional well-being. People with sleep apnea often experience increased irritability, depression, anxiety, and difficulty focusing, all of which can negatively impact work, relationships, and daily life.
Breathing through your mouth at night—especially due to obstructed nasal airflow—can lead to dry mouth and a sore throat in the morning. Sleep apnea often forces people to breathe through their mouths due to repeated airway blockages. If you have a known nasal obstruction or deviated septum, then surgical correction with ENT may also help.
If you recognize one or more of these signs, don’t ignore them. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can lead to long-term complications if left untreated. The good news? Effective treatments are available, and getting a diagnosis is the first step.
At Treasure Valley Family Medicine (TVFM), we specialize in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing sleep apnea. Our experienced providers will work with you to determine the best treatment plan, whether it’s lifestyle changes, oral appliance therapy, CPAP therapy, or other medical interventions.
📞 Call TVFM to schedule an evaluation or book an appointment online to start sleeping better and feeling healthier.