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Headaches worsen in the morning
Tired all the time
Restless sleep
Easily tired
Snoring
Gained weight
Inability to sleep
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Sleep Apnea Syndrome?
Sleep Apnea Syndrome is a group of sleep disorders marked by repeated pauses or reductions in breathing during sleep. It may result from airway obstruction, disrupted brain signaling, or both. Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, unrefreshing sleep, and excessive daytime fatigue. Morning headaches and concentration issues are also frequent. Untreated, it raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and kidney problems. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to reducing long-term health risks. Sleep apnea and narcolepsy can share overlapping symptoms, particularly excessive daytime sleepiness. While their causes differ, they may occur together. Addressing sleep apnea is important in narcolepsy care, as untreated apnea can worsen daytime symptoms and reduce narcolepsy treatment effectiveness.
Typical Symptoms of Sleep Apnea Syndrome
- I have been told my breathing stops for brief periods while sleeping
- Headache that gets worse in the morning
- Fatigue or low energy that is worse in the morning
- Small jaw
- Unable to sleep deeply
- Decreased motivation
- Frequently waking up in the middle of the night
- Difficulty concentrating
Diagnostic Questions for Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Have you been told that your breathing stops briefly during sleep?
- Do your headaches get worse in the morning?
- Do you experience fatigue or low energy that is worse in the morning?
- Do you feel your chin is small?
- Do you have trouble sleeping deeply?
Treatment of Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Treatment varies based on the type and severity of sleep apnea syndrome. In mild cases, treatment consists of lifestyle changes like weight loss, smoking cessation or nighttime use of a mouthpiece to keep the airway open. In more severe cases, it may require medications, surgery and a machine (CPAP machine) to keep the airway open while sleeping.
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Rohini R, MD (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Content updated on Aug 5, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Sleep apnea
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- Breathing stops during sleep
- Unable to sleep deeply
- Stops breathing suddenly while sleeping
- I can only experience light sleep or feel that I do not need to sleep
Symptoms Related to Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Diseases Related to Sleep Apnea Syndrome
FAQs
Q.
Waking Up Gasping? Why Apnea Happens & Medical Next Steps
A.
Waking up gasping is most often due to sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea where throat muscles relax and block airflow, causing oxygen drops and sudden awakenings; other causes like reflux, asthma, panic episodes, heart disease, or post nasal drip can also play a role. There are several factors to consider, and medical next steps can include a doctor visit, risk review, and a sleep study to confirm severity, followed by treatments such as CPAP, side sleeping and weight loss, dental devices, or selected surgeries; see below for red flags that need urgent care and more details that can guide your personal plan.
References:
* Eckert DJ. Pathophysiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep Med Clin. 2017 Mar;12(1):1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2016.10.003. PMID: 28153215.
* Kapur VK, Auckley D, Chowdhuri S, Kuhlmann DC, Mehra R, Ramar K, Strollo PJ Jr, Tracy SL. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 May 15;13(5):665-683. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6570. PMID: 28416040.
* Rundo JV, Dement WC, Kushida CA. Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults: An Official American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 Feb 1;17(2):299-322. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.8988. PMID: 33512217.
* Javaheri S. Central Sleep Apnea: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment. Chest. 2020 Jan;157(1):198-208. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2019.06.035. PMID: 31302061.
* Somers VK, White DP, Abouljoud M, Diez-Morales LF, Gami A, Gislason T, Hamilton J, Jelic S, Loredo JS, Mayerova Z, Nieto FJ, Peppard PE, Philip P, Rains J, Redline S, Saban M, Schey C, Singh H, Yaggi HK. Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: An Update. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018 Mar 10;7(5):e008126. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.117.008126. PMID: 29523616.
Q.
Gasping for Air? Why Your Body Stops Breathing & How to Fix Sleep Apnea
A.
Waking up gasping for air is often due to sleep apnea, a common but treatable condition where your airway collapses or the brain’s breathing signals misfire during sleep, causing oxygen drops, brief awakenings, and serious health risks if untreated. There are several factors to consider. See below for symptom red flags, who is at higher risk, how diagnosis works, and proven fixes like CPAP and oral appliances, since these details can shape the safest next steps in your care.
References:
* Schwartz AR, Patil SP, Laffan AM, et al. Obstructive sleep apnoea. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016 Oct 6;2:16044. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.44. PMID: 27708298.
* Eckert DJ. Pathophysiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Contemporary Perspective. Curr Opin Physiol. 2018 Feb;1:67-76. doi: 10.1016/j.cophys.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Dec 1. PMID: 29892601; PMCID: PMC5996020.
* Kapur VK, Auckley DH, Chowdhuri S, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Mar 15;13(3):479-504. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6500. PMID: 28162029; PMCID: PMC5337595.
* Randerath W, Schwaibold M. Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea. J Bras Pneumol. 2019 Jul 1;45(4):e20190104. doi: 10.1590/1806-3713/e20190104. PMID: 31339682; PMCID: PMC6695325.
* Aurora RN, Chowdhuri S, Casey KR, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Central Sleep Apnea: A Review. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021 May 1;17(5):1021-1042. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9123. PMID: 33929251; PMCID: PMC8492083.
Q.
Wired But Tired? Why Your Vagus Nerve Is Misfiring & Medically-Approved Next Steps
A.
Wired but tired often signals vagus nerve dysregulation that keeps your body stuck in stress mode, causing anxiety, unrefreshing sleep, palpitations, lightheadedness, and gut issues, often driven by chronic stress, poor sleep or apnea, inflammation, trauma, or medical conditions. Medically approved next steps include prioritizing sleep, slow breathing with longer exhales, cautious cold exposure, moderate exercise, gut support, therapy when needed, and medical evaluation for treatable drivers like sleep apnea or diabetes, plus knowing urgent red flags. There are several factors to consider for your care; see below for the full guidance and important nuances that can shape your next steps.
References:
* Wenzel, T. T., et al. (2019). The vagal nerve and chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive review. *Frontiers in Neuroscience*, 12, 1007.
* Bonaz, B., et al. (2021). Vagus nerve stimulation: a new therapeutic approach for the autonomic nervous system? *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, 10(13), 2824.
* Castaldo, R., et al. (2022). Heart rate variability as a marker of the quality of life and vagal tone: A critical review. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, 11(12), 3468.
* Pavlovi, R., et al. (2021). The Vagus Nerve as a Potential Modulator of Neuroinflammation. *International Journal of Molecular Sciences*, 22(8), 4307.
* Koopman, F. A., et al. (2021). Practical Review: Vagal Nerve Stimulation for the Management of Chronic Conditions. *The American Journal of the Medical Sciences*, 361(2), 115-125.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Cumpston E, Chen P. Sleep Apnea Syndrome. 2023 Sep 4. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 33232089.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33232089/Li Z, Celestin J, Lockey RF. Pediatric Sleep Apnea Syndrome: An Update. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2016 Sep-Oct;4(5):852-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2016.02.022. Epub 2016 Jun 30. PMID: 27372597.
https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198(16)30105-2/fulltextCristescu Teodor R, Mihaltan FD. Eyelid laxity and sleep apnea syndrome: a review. Rom J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jan-Mar;63(1):2-9. PMID: 31198891; PMCID: PMC6531778.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6531778/