my ex-husband was diagnosed with sleep apnea at age 35, our son is now 19 and over the summer between ending high school and starting college - I noticed he was very diffcult to awaken, fell asleep often sitting straight up in uncomfortable positions, and his snoring increased. He began college and started on an SEC football team as a tight end. Suddenly he can't wake up after 8 hours of sleep, despite very loud alarm clocks, phones ringing etc.

I have him scheduled for a sleep study this weekend but am very concerned, for he's not the least bit overweight (unlike his dad), he's 6'6"/225 lbs. Can sleep apnea characterize in this way as opposed to the stopping breathing my ex-husband used to exhibit? To our knowledge he isn't having those issues, but just wondered if the inability to awaken could also be the result of plain sleep apnea or something more complex?

I think a sleep test is a good idea
in some cases, the breath blockeges can happen on almost every breath and can be difficult to notice

this was happening with me, so I had no long periods of blockage or apnea

The sleep study will give you the answers on what is going on with your son's sleep.  If a C-pap is needed - use it - and hopefully he will adjust to it well.   Good Luck - John

Dear Worried Mom,

You can have him take this test which is located in the links to the left of the forum index.  However, it's good you've gone ahead and gotten him in for a study.  Forget all the stereotypical body images you have about apnea, it happens to all body types overweight and skinny.  It is the insides that count.

http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/snorescore.pdf

Vicki