What are 5 symptoms of sleep apnea?

As a customer service specialist, I spend my day talking to people who are exhausted. It's a deep, core-level exhaustion that not even a pot of coffee would cure. Usually they call because they've tried everything to get a restful night's sleep and are starting to wonder if something is actually wrong.

I asked our co-founder, who happens to be a doctor, about important red flags for sleep apnea so I can help direct customers appropriately. She named five possible signs that should prompt a doctor's visit.

First, there's the snoring. And by snoring I don't mean the natural, rhythmic kind, but the loud, jagged, 'the house is falling down' kind. Often it's accompanied by moments where breathing just stops. If you're waking up gasping for air or feeling like you haven't slept in a week, you should really talk to a physician. Sometimes, this key symptom isn't obvious because your fatigue is so extreme that that you don't remember waking up dozens of times at all. Then there's the waking up with a throbbing headache or dry mouth. It's a parched feeling that makes you reach for some water the second you open your eyes.

Next is the daytime fog which is hard to describe to someone who hasn't felt it, but it feels like trying to navigate your day through pea soup. You're irritable, losing focus, and nodding off during work meetings. Next, you might also notice that you're unable to find a comfortable sleeping position, so you toss and turn constantly because your body is fighting for air. Finally, there's the observation by others about your jarring, scary snorts that are actually gasps for breath in the middle of the night. Even if you live alone, these snorts can be so loud that neighbors hear them through the walls.

If these sound familiar, please don't just ignore them. It's easy to blame a busy schedule, caffeine, or too much screen time, but your body might be trying to tell you something much more serious.

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