This condition should be suspected if the patient snores loudly with pauses in respiration, has restless sleep, and unexplained hypertension. The apnoeic episodes can usually be observed by the bed partner. This type of apnoea will often respond to weight loss. Frequent napping and drug use can cause patients to develop phase shift in terms of the environmental clock time. His or her most alert period may not occur at the most appropriate time during the 24-hour period and the time of alert period may change from day to day.
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