How do you know if you suffer from OSA? If you are not sure, you may ask your partner to listen for an irregular breathing pattern during the night. If you live alone you may want to use the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) which is used to determine the level of daytime sleepiness.
With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, some of the most common symptoms are:
- Snoring (heavily) is the first and foremost sign
- Irregular breathing or/and breathing interruptions for periods of differing duration
- High blood pressure
- Sleep deprivation resulting in feeling very tired when waking in the morning and also during the day
- Gasping for air and waking up several times during the night
- Recurring dreams such as drowning, being unable to breathe underwater or falling off a cliff
- Falling asleep in less than 3 minutes when going to bed
- Morning headaches or feeling like you have a hangover without having consumed alcohol the evening before
- Lack of concentration, intellectual deterioration or having poor memory
- Reduced sexual activity