Sleep apnea is defined as an absence of breathing during sleep. Breathing might stop or be significantly reduced, for 10 seconds or more during episodes that could occur throughout the night. Deprived of oxygen, the body’s systems shift into high-alert, causing stress on your cardiovascular, nervous, hormonal, and other systems. Because this can happen dozens or hundreds of times, sleep becomes severely impacted. Although not everyone with sleep apnea remembers these disruptions in the morning, results can include feeling extremely tired, fatigued, or sleepy, and unprepared for the day.

How Apnea Makes You Feel

While we typically associate apnea with excessive daytime sleepiness, the truth is that an equal number of patients complain of feelings of fatigue and tiredness. We don’t yet know why some people complain of one feeling or the other. And sometimes, a complaint of fatigue is really a complaint of feeling sleepy and vice versa. The constant interruptions during important sleeping processes mean that your sleep is fragmented and this can be manifested as sleepiness, fatigue, or a feeling of being tired. This is not a minor problem. If you’re sleepy or fatigued during the day, this can result in low productivity at work, costly or dangerous mistakes at work, accidents on the job, or not communicating your best during personal interactions. These feelings also detract from quality time with loved ones. Over time, sleep apnea can rob you of a better quality of life.

What to Do

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, talk with your doctor about the appropriate therapy that will allow you to get a better night’s sleep. Appropriate treatments will help your body eliminate or reduce apnea episodes, resulting in more consistent sleeping periods. Your doctor can also make recommendations about how to deal with excessive sleepiness during the day. For example, sticking to a regular sleeping schedule will eventually help your body reset its circadian rhythm, or body clock so that you fall asleep at bedtime and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. While regular daytime napping can wind up interfering with quality sleep at night, if you feel extremely sleepy during a potentially dangerous situation –while driving or operating machinery, for example – it’s much better to take a quick, 20-minute nap.

The Research

The good news is that medical research has shown that effective therapy of sleep apnea can improve excessive sleepiness, fatigue, and tiredness. This is because treatments help people breathe normally throughout the night, without numerous awakenings that disrupt your healthy sleep. Because you receive sufficient sleep, you feel more rested in the morning.