Signs of Sleep Apnea
If you show signs of sleep apnea, turn to the sleep specialists at Nash UNC Health Care for expert diagnosis and treatment.
What’s Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder. If you have sleep apnea, you may stop breathing for 10 to 90 seconds at a time while you’re sleeping. This can happen hundreds of times each night. Learn about stages of sleep apnea.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Find care for all types of sleep apnea at Nash UNC:
- Obstructive sleep apnea – Your airway is blocked during sleep
- Central sleep apnea – Your brain doesn’t send the right signals to your muscles to breathe
- Complex sleep apnea – Combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea
Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
You may have sleep apnea if you:
- Snore most nights or snore loudly
- Gasp or stop breathing during sleep
- Feel tired, even right after waking up
- Have headaches after waking up
- Fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV, or driving
- Experience difficulty concentrating or remembering things
Talk to your doctor if you experience one or more signs of sleep apnea. He or she may recommend a sleep study. Learn about what to consider when you decide whether to have a sleep study for sleep apnea.
Effects of Sleep Apnea
If you have sleep apnea and don’t treat your condition, you are at increased risk of:
- Car accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Memory problems
- Stroke
- Weight gain
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Work with your Nash UNC sleep specialist to create the best care plan for you. Learn more about our sleep medicine services.
