A person suffering from sleep apnea
may have from a few to many apneic episodes in a night's
sleep. A study on 35 individuals recorded 68 to 682
apneic episodes during a seven-hour sleep period.
The length of time that each episode lasts ranges
from 10 seconds to up to 190 seconds!
Snoring is a common symptom that often
also precedes the development of other symptoms. It
occurs when the person starts to breathe at the end
of each apneic period. Some sufferers are described
as snoring or even gasping during sleep. Another study
shows that people suffering from sleep apnea has very
agitated sleep, and they move in an abnormal manner
frequently before resuming breathing at the end of
an apneic period. The movements range from simple
"flapping tremors" of the hands and feet
to larger and sometimes quite violent movements of
the arms, legs and body. Some would even suddenly
sit up, try to get out of bed, try to walk, walk a
little then fall to the floor, resuming sleep for
the rest of the night. These people are hard to awaken
from the apneic periods and if they were awakened,
they did not know where they were. Sufferers from
central sleep apnea often complain of insomnia, saying
that they are unable to get a good night's sleep.
They are unaware of the apneic episodes, but are aware
that they awaken frequently and are unable to get
back to sleep for some time. They also have many awakenings,
which they are unaware of. The symptom of upper airway
or mixed sleep apnea is excessive daytime sleepiness,
as reported by the sufferers themselves. They complain
of not getting enough sleep and feeling sleepy during
the day. Though their sleep is disturbed, they are
completely unaware and feel that their sleep is deep
and continuous. Early morning headaches and hallucinations,
which occur while the individual is feeling very sleepy,
are other symptoms of sleep apnea.
Foreword
