Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Although the majority of sleep apnea cases go undiagnosed, many patients often recognize some of the symptoms before a physician gives them an accurate diagnosis. Some of the most common symptoms associated with sleep apnea include the following.

  • Insomnia
  • Weight gain
  • Frequent urination at night
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up feeling unrested
  • Falling asleep during the day
  • Loss of focus or motivation

Many symptoms or signs of sleep apnea won’t be noticed by you but instead by your sleeping partner. Ask someone to watch you sleep and look for signs of:

  • Loud snoring
  • Choking or gasping
  • Restless sleeping
  • Clenching teeth
  • Stopping breathing

Take our Epworth Sleepiness Scale quiz to find out if you should take a professional sleep test.

Common Sleep Apnea Misdiagnosis

It’s also common for a doctor to misdiagnose your sleep apnea with a different condition. Many doctors overlook sleep apnea just like TMJ and instead diagnose you with one of the following:

  • Diabetes
  • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
  • Low testosterone
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Depression
  • High blood pressure

Although you may have one of these conditions, they may indicate that you have sleep apnea. Treating your sleep apnea may help treat these conditions or resolve them altogether.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms & Diagnosis

Sleep Apnea Screening

If you experience one or more of the symptoms listed above, you should take our sleep apnea screening quiz or talk to your physician about getting a screening. Our online quiz will tell you if you are at risk for sleep apnea. If you are at risk, we highly recommend that you get tested to receive a diagnosis.

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

The only way to get the right treatment for your condition is by getting a proper diagnosis. There is one method for diagnosing sleep apnea, a sleep test. Don’t worry, you don’t have to sleep in a lab to get diagnosed. Today, many different resources can send you a device to conduct your sleep test at home. The device measures your body’s functions such as breathing, heart rate, brain function, oxygen saturation, and more.

Not everyone is the best candidate to get a home sleep test. Those who suffer from the following may require a clinical sleep test.

  • Lung disease
  • Suspicion of central sleep apnea
  • Other sleep conditions
  • Prior heart failure

In these cases, a sleep lab will provide you with a more detailed and accurate test. Regardless of where you conduct your sleep test, it requires a doctor to review the results. Only a physician can diagnose you with sleep apnea. Once you receive your diagnosis, your doctor can work with Dr. Pribyl to find the right treatment for you.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, don’t let a diagnosis slip between your fingers. Dr. Pribyl can help find the resources to get a sleep apnea diagnosis from the comfort of your home and a sleep apnea treatment that works for your body. Please call (816) 795-1000 today to schedule an appointment with our About the Doctors.