What is Sleep Apnea?

A serious sleep disorder that affects millions of people around the world is called sleep apnea. It appears when a person’s breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, leading to low-quality sleep and possible health complications. These interruptions, in turn, are called apneas, with durations ranging from a few seconds to minutes, which can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night.

The term “apnea” refers to “without breath” from the Greek word. Such a pause in sleeping apnea severely reduces oxygen within the blood and forces the heart to pump even harder in the circulation of both blood and oxygen through vital organs.

National Sleep Foundation offers information about sleep disorders.

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Types of Sleep Apnea

The three most recognized forms of sleep apnea include the following:

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea: OSA is considered to be the most common kind of sleep apnea. OSA develops during sleep due to the relaxation of throat muscles blocking air passage.
2. Central Sleep Apnea: The rarer kind in which the central nervous system is not sending signals properly to control muscles, in this case, for respiration.
3. Complex Sleeping Apnea Syndrome: In medical terms, this is treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, wherein a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea happens.

Common Symptoms of Sleeping Apnea

Recognition of the manifestations of sleeping apnea is, therefore, significant in early detection and treatment. Common manifestations may include:

• Audible snoring
• Gasps during sleep
• Waking with a dry mouth
• Headache when waking in the morning
• Insomnia
• Excessive drowsiness when awake
• Find it hard to concentrate
• Annoyed easily
• Lower libido

Snoring does not mean sleeping apnea, nor does the absence of snoring indicate the total absence of the disease. Those experiencing any symptoms from the lists above should report to a physician.

Risk Factors for Sleeping Apnea

Several factors can predispose to the development of sleep apnea.

• Excess weight: Obesity has been strongly associated with sleep apnea.
• Age: Sleepapnea becomes much more common with advancing age.
• Gender: Men are at a higher risk than women.
• Family history: A family history of sleepapnea increases your risk.
• Neck circumference: The larger the neck, the tighter the tube may be.
• Smoking: Smokers have three times the risk for obstructive sleepapnea.
• Alcohol and sedatives: These drugs relax the muscles of the throat.
• Nasal congestion: Obstruction of the nasal passages can lead to sleeping apnea.

Diagnosing Sleeping Apnea

If you think you have sleeping apnea, your doctor may refer you for a sleep study, which is also known as polysomnography. A sleep study can be done in a special sleep center or in the comfort of your home with portable equipment. Several body functions are monitored during the sleep study, including:

• Brain waves
• Eye movements
• Heart rate
• Oxygen levels in your blood
• Breathing patterns
• Leg movements

Conducting a sleep study allows the sleep specialist to make the diagnosis and evaluate its severity.

Learn more about sleep studies from the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

Depending on its type and severity, treatment for sleeping apnea is undertaken. The following are some of the common treatment options available.

1. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

CPAP is the best and most commonly available treatment for patients who suffer from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. During this process, a mask fitted over the nose or mouth while sleeping transfers air from a machine, which helps keep the airway open by providing air continuously.

2. Oral Appliances

This is effective for dental appliances and oral appliances for mild to moderate sleep apnea. The device helps shift the lower jaw and the tongue back, keeping the airway open during the night.

3. Surgery

In some instances, surgery is performed to remove tissue in the throat or correct a structural issue causing sleep apnea.

4. Positional Therapy

For back sleepers with sleep apnea, positional therapy can be of great use. This includes the use of various devices that guide the sleeping body to a sideway position.

5. Weight Loss

Losing a few pounds can significantly improve or even cure sleeping apnea in obese people.

Lifestyle Changes to Manage Sleep Apnea

Besides medical treatments, lifestyle changes may help the condition:

• Maintain optimal weight: Even a small amount of weight reduction can help reduce symptoms of sleeping apnea.
• Regular physical activity: Increases the quality of sleep and reduces the severity of sleep apnea.
• Avoid alcohol and sedatives: They can cause your throat muscles to relax and compromise your breathing.
• Quit smoking: Smoking increases swelling in the upper airway. That may be one of the causes of exacerbation in sleeping apnea.
• Sleep on your side: Sleeping on your side can keep your airway open.
• Elevate the head of your bed: Sleeping with a head-up might reduce snoring and ease breathing.

Complications of Untreated Sleep Apnea

The effects of sleep apnea, left untreated, would be serious, including the following:

• High blood pressure
• Heart problems
• Type 2 diabetes
• Liver problems
• Metabolic syndrome
• Problems with medicines and surgery
• Sleep-deprived partners

When to See a Doctor

If you and your partner start noticing any of the following, it is about time to go see a health professional:

• Heavy, chronic snoring
• Gasp or choking during sleep
• Pauses during breathing during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating or memory loss

Your doctor should refer you to a sleep specialist for further analysis and treatment.

Conclusion

It is a serious condition that could easily affect the quality of life and health in general. This makes it necessary to recognize symptoms early and get the proper diagnosis and treatment. With the right approach, most people with sleeping apnea can be managed, with better sleep and improved health, through appropriate medical treatments and lifestyle changes.

Remember when you suspect you have sleep apnea; you do not need to delay consultation with a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis and proper treatment could make a world of difference between bad sleep and quality sleep along with your general well-being.

Have you or someone you know ever experienced symptoms of sleeping apnea? Share your experiences with us below and let’s get a discussion started about this important health issue.