Explainer
Sleep apnea symptoms: what to look for
Sleep apnea makes breathing stop or get very shallow during sleep. Many of its signs happen while you are asleep, so a bed partner may notice them first. Here are the symptoms as the National Institutes of Health lists them, who is at higher risk, and how it is diagnosed.
What sleep apnea is
MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, describes sleep apnea as a common disorder that causes breathing to stop or get very shallow. The pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes and may happen 30 times or more an hour (MedlinePlus).
The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, where the airway collapses or is blocked during sleep. Normal breathing starts again with a snort or choking sound (MedlinePlus). Central sleep apnea is caused by problems with how the brain controls breathing during sleep (NHLBI).
Symptoms while you sleep
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) lists these signs during sleep (NHLBI):
- Breathing that starts and stops
- Frequent loud snoring (more common in men)
- Gasping for air
You may not know you have these until someone tells you (NHLBI). MedlinePlus notes that people with sleep apnea often snore loudly, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea (MedlinePlus).
Symptoms you may notice yourself
The NHLBI lists these (NHLBI):
- Daytime sleepiness and tiredness, which can lead to problems with learning, focusing and reacting
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue (more common in women)
- Headache (more common in women)
- Insomnia (more common in women)
- Sexual dysfunction or decreased libido
- Waking up often during the night to urinate
Children with sleep apnea may be overactive and may have bedwetting, worsening asthma and trouble paying attention in school (NHLBI).
MedlinePlus says interrupted sleep can make you drowsy during the day, and that people with sleep apnea are at higher risk for car crashes, work-related accidents and other medical problems (MedlinePlus). If you feel very sleepy during the day, take care with driving and talk to your provider.
Who is at higher risk
The NHLBI says age, family history, lifestyle habits, other medical conditions and some features of the body, such as the neck or tongue, can raise the risk. For obstructive sleep apnea it lists (NHLBI):
- Age. It can happen at any age, but the risk rises as you get older.
- Obesity. Extra fat in the neck can block the upper airway. A healthy weight can help prevent or treat sleep apnea caused by obesity.
- Large tonsils, neck or tongue. These can narrow the upper airway.
- Hormone conditions. Including polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid problems and high levels of insulin or growth hormone.
- Family history and genes. Genes help shape the skull, face and upper airway.
- Heart or kidney failure. Fluid can build up in the neck.
- Alcohol and smoking. Alcohol relaxes the mouth and throat muscles, which may close the airway.
- Sex. Sleep apnea is more common in men, and men are more likely to have serious sleep apnea and to be diagnosed younger.
MedlinePlus sums it up as being overweight, male, or having a family history or small airways, and adds that children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids may also get it (MedlinePlus). The NHLBI also notes that sleep apnea may raise the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke (NHLBI); see heart disease risk factors.
How it is diagnosed
Your provider will ask about your symptoms, risk factors and any family history of sleep apnea, and may refer you to a sleep specialist or a sleep study. A sleep study can show which type of sleep apnea you have and how serious it is. A sleep diary can help, and blood tests may look for other conditions, such as thyroid problems (NHLBI). MedlinePlus says doctors diagnose sleep apnea from medical and family history, a physical exam and sleep study results (MedlinePlus).
A questionnaire such as STOP-Bang can help you decide whether to bring it up, but it cannot diagnose sleep apnea. How its 8 questions work is in STOP-Bang explained. For adults with no symptoms, the US Preventive Services Task Force found too little evidence to recommend screening (USPSTF 2022).
Can it be treated or prevented?
MedlinePlus says lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery and breathing devices can treat sleep apnea in many people (MedlinePlus). The NHLBI says you may be able to prevent obstructive sleep apnea with a heart-healthy diet, aiming for a healthy weight, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol (NHLBI). To check your weight, use the BMI calculator.
Common questions
Does snoring mean I have sleep apnea?
Not always. Loud snoring is common in sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has it (MedlinePlus). Snoring with pauses in breathing or gasping is worth raising with your provider (NHLBI).
Can women have sleep apnea?
Yes. It is more common in men, but the NHLBI notes that fatigue, headache and insomnia as symptoms are more common in women (NHLBI) (NHLBI).
What should I do if I think I have it?
Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms. You may need a sleep study (NHLBI).
Sources
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Sleep Apnea: Symptoms. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/symptoms
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Sleep Apnea: Causes and Risk Factors. Last updated January 9, 2025. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/causes
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Sleep Apnea: Diagnosis. Last updated January 9, 2025. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/diagnosis
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Sleep Apnea. Last updated September 28, 2025. medlineplus.gov/sleepapnea.html
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults: Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2022;328(19):1945-1950. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults-screening
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-11-05. Spotted an error? See About.