Sleep doctors reveal 2 symptoms you should never ignore when it comes to sleep: "They'll often..."

It’s well-known that the quality of our sleep influences how energetic and healthy we feel the next day.

PUBLISHED JAN 28, 2025

A representative image of a person sleeping. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo By Tim Kitchen)

The common belief among people is that sleep is a period of inactivity during which the body and brain are simply at rest. However, recent findings reveal that sleep is a dynamic stage during which the brain works hard to complete essential functions that are directly related to our overall well-being. It's no secret that sleep quality has a direct effect on our level of energy and health as well as productivity during the day. Research has further discovered that two common sleep-related symptoms may indicate possible medical issues that require urgent medical attention.

A representative image of a woman sleeping. (Image Source: Getty Images | Photo By Olga Rolenko)

Dr. Katie McCullar, a postdoctoral researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital's neurology department, discussed sleep apnea and its impact on sleep patterns. As reported by Amplify Upworthy, she said, “Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by difficulty breathing during sleep.” The two most common symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring and strange noises while breathing. Snoring can be due to several reasons, and Dr. Robson Capasso said, “There's also what we call primary snoring, where they just make the noise because the tissues in the back of the throat are fluttering."

However, it’s important not to dismiss the possibility of having sleep apnea. Dr. McCullar also added, “Interestingly, it is not only snoring that indicates issues with breathing during sleep but also sporadic periods of silence." If someone is making strange noises while they are asleep, it could indicate that their breathing is difficult or irregular. The doctor further explained, “Someone suffering from sleep apnea may experience segments where they are not breathing at all, so they are unable to snore while their airway is closed. They will often startle awake after these moments of quiet due to the blood oxygen levels dropping below a certain level, causing them to wake from sleep."

“Sleep apnea can lead to devastating health outcomes, including heart disease, strokes, and diabetes when left untreated,” Dr. McCullar claimed. In addition to depriving people of a good night's sleep, these frequent sleep disturbances also leave them feeling exhausted during the day. However, fatigue or lethargy are only a few of the many consequences of sleep apnea. It can also raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and several other chronic health issues in the absence of timely treatment. As reported by Healthline, these can negatively impact several systems of our body when paired with inadequate sleep. Furthermore, sleep apnea can also worsen respiratory issues like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by reducing oxygen consumption when at rest.

Sleep apnea can also be identified by several other symptoms, such as morning headaches among others. Medical experts recommend seeking professional help if one experiences even any two of these signs, as the disorder can have serious consequences including surgical complications, liver issues, and more. This condition has the potential to severely disrupt a person's everyday lifestyle, making it a condition that should not be overlooked. Despite its widespread presence in the U.S., many people continue to neglect the condition due to a lack of awareness about the common symptoms.