Sleep Apnea Signs and Causes

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep, often without a person realizing it. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems.

The two main types are obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, with a third type, complex sleep apnea syndrome, combining features of both. While the causes differ their symptoms often overlap, making diagnosis more challenging.

Read on to learn about the causes, signs and risk factors of sleep apnea.

What causes sleep apnea?

There are different causes of sleep apnea, depending on the type of sleep apnea you have. 

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type. It happens when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much during sleep. This causes a blockage in the airway, which prevents air from getting to your lungs.

When your airway is blocked, your breathing stops for a short time. Your body then briefly wakes you up to reopen the airway. You may not remember waking up but this cycle can happen several times at night.

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) happens when your brain doesn’t send the correct signals to the muscles that control breathing. This causes a pause in breathing but there is no physical blockage of the airway, like with OSA. 

CSA is less common than OSA. It is often linked to other health problems, like heart disease or certain brain conditions.

Complex sleep apnea syndrome

This is a combination of OSA and CSA. It occurs when a person has symptoms of both types of sleep apnea. It is sometimes called treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

What are the signs of sleep apnea?

The most common symptoms of OSA and CSA include:

• Loud snoring: You may be at risk for sleep apnea if you snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
• Pauses in breathing during sleep: People with sleep apnea may stop breathing for a few seconds or longer while they sleep. These pauses often happen without a person knowing it. They may suddenly wake up, gasp for air and then fall back asleep.
• Feeling tired during the day: If you feel tired during the day, even after a full night’s sleep, it could be a sign of sleep apnea. Pauses in breathing can interrupt your sleep, so your body doesn’t get enough rest. This can make you feel sleepy and sluggish throughout the day.
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat: People with sleep apnea may wake up with a dry mouth or sore throat. This happens because they often breathe through their mouths instead of their noses while sleeping. 
• Difficulty focusing or staying awake: Sleep apnea can cause trouble focusing, and people may feel sleepy or even fall asleep during the day. This can affect work, school or other daily activities.
• Irritability or mood swings: Because sleep apnea affects the quality of sleep, it can also affect your mood. Sleep apnea can make you feel more irritable or sad. You may have trouble controlling your emotions. 
• Night sweats: Excessive sweating during sleep is another sign of sleep apnea. This happens when the body struggles to breathe, causing a stress response. 
• Morning headaches: Many people with sleep apnea experience headaches in the morning. These headaches are often caused by low oxygen levels that happen when breathing stops during sleep. They can feel like tension headaches or migraines and may improve as the day goes on.
• Sexual dysfunction: Sleep apnea can affect sexual health. People with sleep apnea may have trouble with sexual performance or may experience a decreased interest in sex. This is because poor sleep and low oxygen levels during the night can lower energy and affect hormone levels, leading to issues like erectile dysfunction or reduced sex drive (libido).

Am I at risk for sleep apnea?

Some people are more likely to have sleep apnea than others. If you have one or more of these factors, you may be at higher risk for sleep apnea:

• Being overweight or obese: Excess body weight is one of the most common risk factors for sleep apnea. Fat around the neck can put pressure on the airway and make it hard to breathe during sleep.
• Family history: Sleep apnea can run in families. If you have a family history of sleep apnea, you may be more likely to have it, too.
• Being older: Adults over 40 are more likely to develop sleep apnea.
• Large tonsils or adenoids: This is more common in children but can also happen in adults. 
• Being male: Men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) are more likely to have sleep apnea. However, after menopause, the risk for women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) increases and becomes a similar risk.
• Having a large neck size: People with larger necks are more likely to develop sleep apnea. A thicker neck can put pressure on the airway and make it more likely to collapse while sleeping.
• Drinking alcohol or using sedatives and tranquilizers: These substances can relax the muscles in your throat and make sleep apnea worse. It is very important to avoid drinking alcohol close to bedtime. 
• Smoking habit: Smoking can increase the risk of sleep apnea, among other risks. Smoking can make the airway swollen and increase the chance of breathing problems during sleep.
• Nasal problems: A stuffy nose or other nasal blockage can make it harder to breathe while sleeping.
• Having a medical condition: Certain medical conditions increase the risk of sleep apnea. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, GERD (reflux), asthma, stroke and chronic lung disease.

Think you might have sleep apnea?

Take our free sleep apnea risk assessment. Then discuss your symptoms with your health care provider or a Banner Health specialist.

Getting treatment for sleep apnea can help you sleep better, feel more energetic during the day and lower your risk for health issues.

Learn about about testing and diagnosis for sleep apnea.