SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP APNEA:

 Sleep apnea is a common and potentially serious sleep disorder in which your breathing is repeatedly interrupted while you sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to type 2 diabetes and heart disease while increasing your likelihood of stroke and heart attack.

Following are the symptoms of sleep apnea:

You snore loudly.

Your bed partner says that you snore and sometimes stop breathing when you sleep.

You sometimes wake up abruptly with shortness of breath.

You sometimes wake up choking or gasping.

You often wake up to use the bathroom.

You wake up with a dry mouth or sore throat.

You often wake up with a headache.

You have insomnia (difficulty staying asleep).

You have hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness).

You have attention, concentration, or memory problems while awake.

You are irritable and experience mood swings.

You have risk factors for sleep apnea, such as being overweight or obese, drinking alcohol, or smoking tobacco.

You have a decreased interest in sex or are experiencing sexual dysfunction.

SLEEP APNEA SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN:

Many children with untreated sleep apnea have behavioral, adaptive, and learning issues that are similar to the symptoms of ADHD:

difficulty with learning

poor attention span

poor performance at school

Look for these warning signs of sleep apnea in your child:

snoring

mouth breathing (while asleep and awake)

breathing pauses during sleep

bedwetting

daytime sleepiness

If your child is showing the signs that indicate sleep apnea, discuss your concerns with your pediatrician. Following diagnosis, your pediatrician should have a number of suggestions regarding treatment. Often they will refer you to an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat specialist) to see if removing the tonsils and adenoids could solve the issue.