The American Sleep Apnea Foundation has developed a simple questionnaire to help a person to determine if she suffers from sleep apnea. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, consult your doctor:

* Do you snore very often?
* Do you feel tired and groggy on awakening?
* Are you often sleepy during the day?
* Do you suffer from obesity?
* Have you ever been told that you choke, you breathe hard or you hold your breath when you sleep? Ask your partner.

Daytime sleepiness is probably the most obvious symptom to patients because they are struggling to stay awake, concentrate and work. Sometimes people lose their jobs because they feel sleepy at work.

This is even more serious if drowsiness occurs when a person driving or operating machinery. Studies have shown that the accident rate is higher than average in people who suffer from sleep apnea. It would be better if they avoid taking the wheel when they feel sleepy, or to stop driving completely until the apnea is not controlled.

Sleep apnea can also cause headaches, memory problems and depression. In severe cases, it happens that some health problems arise or are exacerbated by sleep apnea, including: hypertension, heart attack, stroke, impaired cardiac function, heart failure and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).

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