Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which the process of respiration continuously pauses and resumes. It can potentially lead to life-threatening situations and is more common in men. Increased age and obesity are risk factors for this condition. This condition can be managed by making lifestyle changes and using a breathing device to sleep. 

Here are some of the symptoms of sleep apnea:

When you are sleeping, the following symptoms may show up if you are affected by sleep apnea.

• Snoring loudly and intensely
• Gasping for breath subconsciously
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Poor quality of sleep
• Waking up suddenly and frequently during the night
• Not feeling rested after waking up from a night’s sleep
• Chest pain at night
• Headaches past waking up
• Nocturia (waking up in the middle of the night to urinate)

The symptoms that appear at night can significantly affect your behavior during the day. These symptoms include:

• Fatigue and sleepiness
• Headaches and extreme mood swings
• Trouble paying attention to a single thing and having a hard time concentrating on something
• Sexual dysfunction and lowered sex drive
• Poor memory

Other sleep apnea signs and symptoms include:

• Anxiety and depression
• Confusion and irritability
• Daytime drowsiness
• Heartburn and irregular heartbeat
• Palpitations
• Silent pauses in respiration
• Sounds of choking and gasping

Here are some risk factors of sleep apnea: 

• If you are overweight or obese, your weight could serve as a risk factor for sleep apnea. This is especially true for people with a body mass index higher or equal to 25.
• Having a large neck circumference can affect the possibility of you developing sleep apnea. If your neck size is over 17 inches (if you are a man) and 16 inches (if you are a woman), you are at risk of this condition.
• Although sleep apnea can show up at any age, people whose ages lie within the range of 18 to 40 are more susceptible to this condition.
• The male gender is more likely to develop sleep apnea than the female gender. However, a woman’s chances of acquiring this condition can increase with menopause.
• Hypertension is a common factor that can increase the chances of the occurrence of sleep apnea. This is due to the high blood pressure that accompanies hypertension.
• Sleep apnea can affect people even if they’ve done absolutely nothing to earn it. Since it is a condition that is inheritable, you are at a higher risk of developing it if your family members have a history of sleep apnea or snoring. Inherited physical traits that can spike your chances of developing sleep apnea include obesity, recessed jaw, etc.
• Physical activity and your eating habits that contribute to the healthiness of your lifestyle can also play a major role in making you susceptible to sleep apnea.
• A narrowed airway can pose as a risk factor. A narrowed throat could be inherited or acquired through diseases like tonsils or adenoids that enlarge and obstruct the airway.
• The use of alcohol and sedatives can also considerably increase your chances of acquiring sleep apnea.