ICD-10: G47.3Nervous System DiseasesGeneral Severity
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you are asleep.
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Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much during sleep, causing your airway, the tube that lets air into your lungs, to become blocked. This blockage prevents oxygen from reaching your body properly for short periods, forcing your brain to briefly wake you up so you can take a breath.
Because these pauses happen so quickly, you often do not remember waking up, but the constant cycle prevents you from getting the deep, restful sleep your body needs to function well the next day.
Common Symptoms
- Loud snoring that often bothers others.
- Episodes where you stop breathing during sleep, which a partner might notice.
- Gasping or choking sounds while you are sleeping.
- Waking up with a very dry mouth or a scratchy, painful throat.
- Feeling extremely tired or sleepy during the day, even after a full night in bed.
- Waking up with a dull headache that goes away after a few hours.