How to know if you have sleep apnea is a common but under-recognized condition that can have serious health consequences. A GP may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic for tests, where you’ll wear devices that record things like your breathing and heartbeat while you’re asleep. You may need to stay overnight in the clinic to get a complete picture of your nighttime behaviour and health.

Loud snoring is the most common symptom of sleep apnea, though not everyone who snores has it. It’s a sign that your airway becomes narrow or blocked, which can cause vibrations in the throat tissues and make you snore. Some people with obstructive sleep apnea also have breath pauses that reduce their oxygen levels, causing them to wake up.

How to Know If You Have Sleep Apnea: Signs and Symptoms

Other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include dry mouth or sore throat, fatigue, memory problems, mood swings, high blood pressure, and the need to urinate frequently at night. The risk increases as you age because your throat muscles may lose strength. The “obesity epidemic” is another factor, because excess weight can add pressure to the neck and restrict your airway.

There are two types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea, which is caused by the walls of the throat collapsing when you breathe in and creating a blockage; and central sleep apnea, where the brain fails to send the right signals to the body’s breathing muscles. The latter form is more rare, and tends to affect younger people with neuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). It can also occur in people with cardiovascular disease, or with an abnormal heart valve or heart muscle.