Symptoms of Extreme Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is normally categorized in phases that run from mild obstructive sleep apnea to extreme sleep apnea. The symptoms of each phase are very similar but become much more noticeable with extreme sleep apnea.
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Snoring
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One of the more common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. With extreme sleep apnea the snoring not only tends to be louder, it can also tell the story of how bad the apnea is. When someone has the condition they tend to stop breathing frequently during the night. In some more serious cases the person may stop breathing 100 or more times during the night. It is possible to hear the person stop breathing, as their snoring will suddenly stop when they are no longer breathing. Their snoring will return within a few seconds with the sounds associated with someone gasping for air.
Focus and Concentration
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People with extreme sleep apnea do not get quality sleep at night. Their breathing patterns prevent them from getting the very deep sleep that's needed to recharge the body at night, so the person is always tired and has difficulty focusing on daily tasks. The degree to which a person feels tired is directly tied to the degree of apnea they suffer from. People with extreme sleep apnea have the potential to fall asleep during the day while doing anything from driving a car to sitting at a desk at work. Because they are always tired, these people find it difficult to concentrate on their jobs or other everyday tasks.
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High Blood Pressure
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Because a person with extreme sleep apnea is not getting quality sleep during the night, his blood is not able to get the amount of oxygen it needs to supply the internal organs. The frequent stops in breathing prevent the proper amount of oxygen from getting into the blood stream during sleep. Because the heart has to work harder to supply the body with oxygen, high blood pressure or hypertension can develop. As the internal organs send signals that they are low on oxygen, the heart will begin to work harder to pump more blood to get the organs the oxygen they need.
Naps Do Not Help
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One of the symptoms that people sometimes overlook is the effect that naps have on people suffering with the condition. People with extreme sleep apnea will often find time to nap during the day, but even if they manage to fall asleep they won't be refreshed.
Breathing During Sleep
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People with extreme sleep apnea will not only give the classic symptom of loud snoring, but they will also show very irregular breathing patterns when sleeping. It can sound as though the person is always trying to catch his breath, and he may make loud moaning sounds along with the snoring. The moaning is the body's attempt to bring in enough oxygen over the course of the night.
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