SYMPTOMS IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA

Common (>60%)
• Loud snoring
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Feelings of choking or shortness of breath at night
• Restless sleep
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Changes in personality
• Nocturia
Less common (10-60%)
• Morning headaches
• Enuresis
• Reduced libido
• Spouse worried by apnoeic pauses
• Nocturnal sweating
Rare (>10%)
• Recurrent arousals/ insomnia
• Nocturnal cough
• Symptomatic oesophageal reflux

Figure 2. Symptoms in obstructive sleep apnoea.

Most symptoms (Figure 2) are a consequence of sleep disruption. Recurrent arousals fragment sleep and, although SWS may be entered briefly between arousals, it is not adequately refreshing. The role of hypoxaemia in the development of the mental symptoms is unclear. It is possible that some aspects of cognitive dysfunction relate more to hypoxaemia than to sleep disruption.

 

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  		Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
 and variants		    
    Symptoms in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea  
    Measuring the Consequences of OSA  
    Treatment of OSA  
    COPD and OSA  
    Central Sleep Apnoea  
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