What Are The Warning Signs Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea & Can a Cold Cause It?

Sleep apnea is a severe type of sleep disorder, which takes place whenever an individual experiences interruption in his/her breathing during sleep. If you leave the problem of sleep apnea untreated, you may experience the problem of stopped breathing repeatedly while you sleep. In some cases, the problem takes place hundreds of times. This implies that your brain and other body parts fail to receive oxygen in enough amounts.

Regardless of whether the patient of obstructive sleep apnea is a child or an adult, warning signs and symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea are-

• Waking up with a dry or sore throat
• Snoring with loud noise
• Waking up occasionally with a gasping or choking sensation
• Sleepiness or energy loss during the entire day
• Feelings of sleepiness at the time you drive
• Restless sleep
• Morning headaches
• Consistent changes in the mood, forgetfulness, and reduction in interest towards sex
• Insomnia or recurrent awakenings⁽²⁾

Particularly, if your child suffers from the problem of obstructive sleep apnea, he or she may have the following warning signs and symptoms-

Signs and symptoms related to pediatric sleep apnea during sleep may include-

• Pauses in breathing
• Snoring
• Restless sleep
• Chocking, coughing, and snorting
• Breathing via mouth
• Sleep terrors
• Bedwetting

However, young children and infants suffering from obstructive sleep apnea do not usually snore. Instead, they experience disturbed sleep only.

Children suffering from sleep apnea will experience a few other symptoms during the daytime. These are-

• Poor weight gain
• Stay hyperactive
• Experience learning and behavioral problems
• Usually face difficulty in paying attention or concentration
• Show poor performance in academics⁽³⁾

Other than this, patients, especially children suffering from an obstructive type of sleep apnea have various severe complications. These include the following-

• Heart problems during the later years of life
• Fail to achieve proper growth
• Death if symptoms left untreated

Common cold combined with or without nasal allergies and sinus infections may cause the nose linings and sinuses to swell and in turn, create difficulty in breathing during nighttime. Your sinuses and nose also react to infection and irritation by producing mucus in high amounts. Each of these problems causes pressure, sinus pain and postnasal drip, all of which result in an uncomfortable night.⁽⁴⁾

You may suffer from either of two different types of sleep apnea disorder. These include-

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is the common type between the two different types or forms of apnea. The problem mainly takes place because of blockage in your airways most often whenever the soft tissues present in the back portion of your throat collapses at the time you sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea: Unlike the case of obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea problem does not cause blockage in the airways. However, the brain of an affected person fails to signal his/her muscles to take breath based on the instability present in one’s respiratory control center.⁽¹⁾

Obstructive sleep apnea comes with a variety of warning signs and symptoms in patients. Besides, the symptoms vary largely in adults and children. Especially, the symptoms associated with Obstructive sleep apnea become worse with the common cold, sinus infections and nasal allergies.

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Also Read:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea With Hypersomnia – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
• Can Obstructive Sleep Apnea Cause Pulmonary Hypertension?
• What Is Considered Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea & What Is A Normal Oxygen Level For A Child While Sleeping?
• What Is The Difference Between Sleep Apnea And Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
• Is It Dangerous To Have Surgery With Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
• What To Eat & Avoid When A Child Has Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
• How Does Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affect A Child’s Body & What Triggers It?