Sleep apnea

[Key999]

Does sleep apnea cause sharp pains in head and makes it hard to breathe?

[Jerry_NJ]

I have been diagnosed with "mild" obstructive sleep apnea, determined first with an at home over-night recording oximeter test (this measured and recorded the oxygen saturation level in my blood) which lead to a full sleep study.  

I had not pains, just a sense of suffocation at times when falling asleep or waked up from sleep.  Sleeping on one's side may relieve the problem - but I am not a sleep on the back type and I had the problem anyway.

My problem was cured, if only temporarily, by losing 20 pounds.  This took some fat off of my throat and thus opened my breathing channel a bit.  I was only over weight, but also senior age.  I am 6' 5" tall and now weight about 230 pounds - was 245+ when I had the low oxygen sat problem.  I still need to undergo a follow up over-night test, but have not yet arranged for it.  I no longer wake up feeling I am suffocating..  

[Caryopteris]

It could definitely be sleep apnea if this happens during sleep.   It causes oxygen deprivation.