Many people with sleep apnea symptoms don’t recognize their symptoms and don’t see a doctor, or they may attribute them to something else. That can make treatment more difficult. In the short term, untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It also reduces the quality of your sleep, and that can affect your work performance and relationships.

In obstructive sleep apnea, your airway closes repeatedly while you’re sleeping, reducing or stopping your breathing. This is the most common type of sleep apnea. People who are overweight, have large tonsils, or use sedatives or alcohol are more likely to have it. Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to have it than women, and the risk increases with age, especially after menopause. Certain health conditions can increase the chances of getting it, too, including nasal and sinus problems, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and a history of stroke or a family history of one.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms: When to See a Dentist

The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are excessive daytime sleepiness and loud snoring. Other possible signs include waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat, mood changes, trouble paying attention, and recurring headaches. Some people have central sleep apnea, in which your brain doesn’t send the right signals to your muscles to breathe. This type of apnea is more common in people with neuromuscular disease like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), heart failure, or other forms of heart, kidney, and lung diseases.