Most people with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) will snore loudly. Their partners may notice that their breathing is laboured and noisy and it can often be interrupted by gasping and snorting as they experience an episode of apnoea.
If you have OSA you may have no memory of your sleep being interrupted but you will wake feeling that you have not had a decent night's sleep.
Over time, the repeated interruptions to your sleep will lead to the symptoms of sleep deprivation. These include:
- feeling excessively sleepy during the day,
- poor memory and concentration,
- headaches; particularly in the morning,
- irritability and short temper,
- depression,
- lack of interest in sex, and
- in men, impotence (inability to get or maintain an erection).
Some people with OSA may also find that they wake up frequently during the night in order to urinate.
