What is a common symptom of sleep disordered breathing during REM sleep?

Snoring is a common symptom of sleep-disordered breathing during REM sleep due to the physiological changes that occur during this stage of sleep. During REM, the body experiences atonia, which is a temporary paralysis of most voluntary muscles. This can sometimes lead to a narrowing of the upper airway as the muscles relax, making it more challenging for air to pass through. As a result, vibrations of the soft tissues can produce snoring sounds.

In addition, during REM sleep, breathing patterns can become irregular, which can exacerbate sleep-disordered breathing conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Snoring serves as a noticeable indicator that breathing is being compromised, especially when it becomes loud and frequent.

Other choices, such as sleepwalking, nightmares, and hypersomnia, are not typically associated with sleep-disordered breathing. Sleepwalking primarily occurs during non-REM sleep, nightmares can be more related to psychological factors or stress, and hypersomnia refers to excessive daytime sleepiness rather than specific symptoms during REM sleep.