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Hidden sleep apnea symptoms may be disrupting your life in ways you might not know about.I recently flunked an at-home sleep test and was shocked to discover I have been waking dozens of times an hour with disrupted breathing and low oxygen levels.
Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms You Already Know
- Snoring
- Cessation of breathing followed by sudden sharp intake of air
- A feeling of unrestful sleep and fatigue
- Here’s an article from The Mayo on “common” apnea symptoms
Hidden Sleep Apnea Symptoms You Don’t Know
- Headaches on arising or during the night
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Unusual daytime sleepiness even when getting “enough” sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Waking with dry mouth
- Irritability
- Nighttime urination not caused by meds, prostate issue or overhydrating before bed
- Narrow chin and/or diagnosed narrow airway or deviated septum
Causes of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea means the airway in the back of the throat is being obstructed by your tongue. Air cannot get through so your body wakes you up briefly to get you to breathe. Generally you do not know this is happening, even if 5 – 30 times every hour.
The tongue, tonsils, soft palate and uvula can be swollen, or drop when muscles in the back of the throat relax. This worsens with age as collagen declines.
Who Doctors Think Gets Sleep Apnea
1). Overweight persons
2). Males
3). Thick neck circumference
4). Blocked sinus
5). Alcohol, smoking or sleep meds
6). Older adults
Hidden Sleep Apnea Doctors Don’t Suspect
I suffered with chronic nighttime headaches for 10 YEARS. I saw a dozen different types of doctors, ran many tests, had loads of dental work, physical therapy and body work, but nothing ever revealed a cause. (Brain tumor? Bone Spurs? Traumatic brain lesion?).
I did not fit “the apnea profile” so it was never considered.
Then I requested an at-home sleep study from my PC to track my blood pressure during the night, hoping for the next clue.
The diagnosis was “moderate sleep apnea”. I was stunned! (Results are mild, moderate or severe).
Even if I had a sleep partner to hear me snore or gasp, apnea was not suspected as I am thin, female, and no smoking/alcohol or drugs. I fell between the cracks because I didn’t fit the profile.
Taping the Mouth at Night
I have used Somnifix mouth tape for many years. I never miss a night. It holds my mouth closed so I do not snore. But it does not stop the tongue from dropping back from the roof of the mouth (where it is meant to be), closing off the airway. Here are one article and podcast on mouth taping, and, another on mouth taping with CPAP.
I will always tape my mouth as we are healthier when we do not breathe through our mouths.
Multiple Ways to Test Sleep Apnea
1). An at-home test includes a device strapped to your chest, a nasal canula and a finger Oximeter. Four leads connect easily to neck and chest to record breathing, heart rate, pattern and strength of inhale/exhale, etc. This was easy to do and mail to the lab. My device was a HIRO. There are other similar ones.
2).There are many new devices such as “rings” and medallions your doctor may know about. A “ring” that goes on your left hand and records most of the same data as other traditional tests is from Sleep Image for example. I did not use this.
3.) A professional sleep lab study in a bedroom set-up that adds cameras and microphones to observe. This might be better if you already know you have apnea and they can actually test you while you sleep with different CPAP settings, etc.
All may be covered by insurance if your doctor writes the prescription properly, citing the correct medical reasons for the test (excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, insomnia, etc.)
Who Should Test for Sleep Apnea?
If you fit one or more of these, you should test NOW. It’s easy.
- Snoring
- A partner observes you frequently stop breathing
- Overweight (or not!)
- Excess daytime sleepiness even with 6 – 9 hours sleep
- Poor memory or even dementia
- Morning headaches
- Narrow chin, small mouth, or told you have a reduced airway
- Normal weight with any item on this list
- Dry mouth on awaking
- Over the age of 60
CPAP or Dental Appliance?
Either will work for hidden sleep apnea. CPAP may be covered by insurance, a dental sleep appliance might not (and very expensive).
Both take getting used to and can be frustrating or even painful. It took 3 weeks of frustrating trial and error to find a mask that fits (tiny under-the-nose nasal cushion with minimal straps!)
Test results give no guidance on whether to use a CPAP (also called an APAP or BPap) or a custom night-guard that holds your jaw (and therefore tongue) forward during the night.
Good Sleep is a Game-Changer!
I have greatly reduced nighttime headaches after a week of better sleep and oxygen blood levels.
I have greatly reduced pain in my neck, back, and shoulders. Oxygen to my muscles is helping.
My brain is working much better! What a huge relief and a 10/10 outcome all around.
Finding a Sleep Doctor
I have since learned after having my PC prescribe a test that the MUCH better way is to be referred to a doctor who specializes in sleep studies, CPAP machine settings and trial and error of different masks.
Search the web for sleep doctors in your area. Some do only hospital tests. Most also offer at-home tests and advice afterward. I had no help on this and had to figure this on my own at 4 places plus the web.
Next Stop – a Sleep Dentist
There are specialized sleep dentists who offer a large variety of mouthguards to hold the jaw forward at night. If you can’t tolerate the CPAP or want to use both, find this doctor. Hint: It won’t be your regular dentist or orthodontist. They can order 1 or 2 different models but have fewer choices and experience using them.
These can be difficult to wear and can shift your teeth so you’ll need extra long-term care in fitting.
The Other Option – an Implant Near the Neck
A new device called Inspire is a small unit placed under the skin near the collarbone. It sends a signal to a nerve near the tongue to stay up and keep airway open.
Who Should Test for Hidden Sleep Apnea?
Men and women who snore, at any weight, experience daytime fatigue, have insomnia.
If you have a small chin, headaches or dry mouth on awaking, get up to use the restroom, are over the age of 60, or experience issues with memory or concentration, consider an at-home test. Insurance usually covers.
Start taping your mouth with SomniFix tape now to stop snoring but continue on to a test.
An overnight pulse oximeter that records oxygen during the night and sends info to an app is also a great diagnostic start. Do YOU have low oxygen while sleeping?
