What are the specific symptoms of sleep apnea in men?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Sleep apnea in men is a common sleep disorder marked by three key symptoms: loud, chronic snoring, episodes of gasping or choking for air during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness despite a full night's rest. Other signs may include morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Because symptoms often overlap with other conditions, identifying the root cause early is critical. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand your symptoms and confidently plan your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if sleep apnea fits your symptoms Discover what’s causing your daytime sleepiness See whether snoring signals sleep apnea Find OTC options for better sleep Find a sleep specialist near you Understand home remedies for sleep apnea Find out if sleep apnea seems likely

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Explanation

Sleep apnea in men can present with several noticeable symptoms. The most common ones include loud snoring, which often gets noticed by others, and gasping or choking sounds during sleep. These symptoms are caused by the airway getting blocked during sleep. Because of this, men with sleep apnea might also feel very tired during the day, even if they think they slept enough at night.

Key Symptoms:

Loud Snoring: This is often the most noticeable symptom and can be disruptive to others.
Gasping or Choking: Men might wake up suddenly feeling like they can't breathe.
Daytime Sleepiness: Feeling very sleepy or tired during the day, which can affect daily activities.

Sleep apnea can affect how well you sleep and how you feel during the day. If you notice these symptoms, you can take a free symptom checker test to better understand what might be causing them, and it can help guide your conversation with a doctor about what's happening.

(References)

Ambrogetti A, Olson LG, & Saunders NA. (1991). Differences in the symptoms of men and women with .... Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine, 1818545.
Kales A, Vela-Bueno A, & Kales JD. (1987). Sleep disorders: sleep apnea and narcolepsy. Annals of internal medicine, 3544995.
Peter JH, Amend G, Faust M, Meinzer K, Penzel T, Schneider H, et al. (1989). [Snoring and sleep apnea syndrome]. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946), 2669355.

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