Usually, if the person sleeps with or near someone else, they are the ones who recognize the symptoms of sleep apnea. There is a period of no breathing (sometimes lasting a minute or more) followed by a very loud snore/gasp. This may occur multiple times in an hour. Sometimes, the person will waken themselves, but usually they just drift into a lighter stage of sleep where conscious respirations can take place (ie. Period of very loud snore/gasp).
As this occurs several times, the patient’s sleep is disrupted, and daytime sleepiness is common. Other associated symptoms of daytime drowsiness also ensue (i.e. memory problems, performance issues, slower thinking processes, etc.). Additionally, due to the periods without oxygen, other health consequences may occur; such as, hypertension, heart problems, and strokes.
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