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CPAP Symptoms

If you or your bed partner is having disrupted sleeps, you may need to consider trying CPAP. Snoring, waking-up frequently and daytime irritability can all indicate that you have a condition called sleep apnea, but there are effective treatments available. Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) is a treatment for the symptoms of sleep apnea, as reported by non-for-profit Help Guide.

  1. Snoring

    • Loud, chronic snoring can become a concern if it goes untreated and is allowed to become more frequent. It is a sign that someone has sleep apnea, a common but potentially harmful condition affecting the airways during sleep.

    Choking, Snorting and Gasping

    • People with sleep apnea often make unusual, unexpected sounds when they sleep which can ruin their bed partner's chances of rest, as well as reducing their own quality of sleep. Recording or discussing these noises, and the possible link they have to sleep apnea, will help with a diagnosis if the issue is taken to the family doctor.

    Long Breathing Pauses

    • This happens during sleep. It is a sign of disrupted breathing rhythms and airflow problems, which both relate back to sleep apnea. A pause of 10 seconds or more is considered indicative of a sleep problem.

    Daytime Sleepiness and Headaches

    • A common symptom of sleep apnea, and sign that CPAP is needed, is an increase in daytime problems such as tiredness, morning headaches, irritability, difficulty concentrating and even depression. Losing sleep is serious and can harm your body physically, mentally and emotionally and affect your relationships detrimentally if it continues untreated over long periods of time.

    Dry, Sore Mouth

    • A feature of breathing problems, restricted airflow and snoring, this is a clear sign that you have a sleep-related condition. It may also link with mouth infections, which can add to the underlying problem and can result from a 'tired' immune system (when you are run down, your immune system will not work as effectively and can allow infections to take hold).

    Insomnia

    • This is a serious disorder that is characterized by a chronic lack of sleep and an inability to achieve a sleeping state. Insomniacs suffer greatly from daytime tiredness, sleep apnea, depression and a lack of motivation and performance. Anyone who has these symptoms is advised to seek immediate medical help, because there are effective treatments, including CPAP.

    High Blood Pressure

    • Often used to formally diagnose sleep apnea following a visit to the family doctor, this is an excellent indicator of the condition.

    Decreased Libido

    • According to leading snoring and sleep association, British Snoring, sleep apnea can affect libido, leading to relationship problems and low self-esteem.

    Personality Changes

    • According to the Sleep Disorders Guide, this worrying symptom does exist in sleep apnea-affected people, but is reduced following effective diagnosis and after treatments begin.

    Weight Gain

    • Sleep Disorders Guide also reports that patients with the condition notice weight gain, often at a rapid rate, which is very stressful and can cause a cycle of sleep loss.

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