Other conditions with symptoms similar to sleep apnea
Conditions and diseases with symptoms similar to sleep apnea (such as breathing problems, sleep disturbances, and daytime sleepiness) include:
- Other sleep disorders, such as suddenly falling asleep (narcolepsy) or having your arms or legs move uncontrollably while you sleep (periodic leg movement disorder).
- Heart failure.
- Respiratory problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn may be a symptom of sleep apnea.
- Sleep-associated seizures (temporal lobe epilepsy).
- Hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
- An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
- Drug addiction or dependency.
- Depression.
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: July 13, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Jan Ulfberg, MD, PhD - Sleep Disorders | |
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