What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing is disrupted while they are sleeping. Untreated sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing periodically during the night, often hundreds of times. Sleep apnea affects approximately 25% of males and roughly 10% of women. It also affects people of all ages, including infants and children, as well as people over 50 and those who are overweight.

Sleep apnea can lead to a variety of health issues, including hypertension, stroke, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart muscle tissue), heart failure, diabetes, and heart attacks if not treated. It can also lead to occupational impairment, work-related accidents, and motor vehicle crashes, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The more common of the symptoms is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by periodic bouts of full or partial upper airway obstruction while sleeping. The diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the airway during an apneic episode as the pressure rises. With a loud gasp or body jerk, breathing typically returns. These episodes can disrupt sleep, limit oxygen supply to essential organs, and induce abnormal heart rhythms.

Central Sleep Apnea

The airway is not closed in central sleep apnea, but the brain fails to instruct the muscles to breathe due to instabilities in the respiratory control center. The central nervous system plays a role in central apnea.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Because the signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea are similar, it can be difficult to tell which one you have. The following are some of the most prevalent signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas:

• Loud snoring
• Episodes in which you stop breathing while sleeping
• During sleep, you may find yourself gasping for air
• A dry mouth greets you when you awaken
• A headache in the morning
• Sleeping problems (insomnia)
• Disturbances in mood (depression or anxiety)
• Sweats during the night
• Urination at all hours of the night
• Sexual dysfunction
• Excessive drowsiness during the day (hypersomnia)
• Paying attention while awake is difficult
• Irritability
• Recurrent awakenings or sleeplessness are more common in people with central sleep apnea, however, they may also wake up with a choking or gasping sensation.

Children’s symptoms may not be as clear and include:

• Poor school performance
• In the classroom, sluggishness or tiredness is sometimes misunderstood as laziness
• Mouth breathing and swallowing are challenging during the day
• When inhaling, the ribcage moves inward
• Sleeping in unusual positions, such as on the hands and knees or with the neck hyper-extended
• Problems with learning and behavior (hyperactivity, attention deficits)
• Bedwetting
• Sweating excessively at night

Causes of Sleep Apnea

When a person’s airway becomes clogged during sleep, this is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Several factors have been discovered to raise the likelihood of blockage and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Here are some of them:

Family History

Individuals with OSA are more likely to develop it themselves if they have one or more close relatives who have it.

Smoking Cigarettes

People who smoke, particularly heavy smokers, have been observed to have a higher rate of OSA than nonsmokers.

Obesity

Obesity is a primary cause of OSA, and in up to 60% of cases, can be an underlying risk factor. Obesity causes structural narrowing of the airway, and studies show that a ten percent increase in weight can result in a six-fold increase in OSA risk.

Sedatives

The tissue in the throat can relax as a result of sedative medications and substances, making it easier for the airway to become clogged.

Anatomy

The size and position of a person’s neck, jaw, tongue, tonsils, and other tissue in the back of the throat have a direct impact on airflow.

Hormonal Conditions

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and acromegaly (excess growth hormone) are hormonal diseases that might enhance the risk of OSA by generating tissue swelling near the airway and/or increasing a person’s risk of obesity.

Sleeping on your Back

Tissue collapses around the airway more easily in this sleeping position, causing obstructions.

Congestion in the Nose

People who have difficulty breathing through their nose due to congestion are more likely to develop OSA. Breathing is influenced differently in CSA than it is in OSA. The difficulty arises in how the brain communicates with the muscles that control breathing, rather than an impediment causing breathing gaps. The brain stem, in particular, fails to effectively perceive carbon dioxide levels in the body, resulting in breathing that is slower and shallower than it should be. The majority of the time, CSA is linked to a medical issue. A stroke, a brain infection, or, in rare situations, a brain tumor can all affect the brain stem. Opioids, which are used to treat pain, can interfere with this regular breathing mechanism. CSA can also occur when a person’s oxygen levels are thrown off due to being at a high altitude.

Complications of Sleep Apnea

Constant nightly disruptions and shorter overall sleep can result from sleep apnea. Sleep deprivation has been linked to a variety of health issues affecting a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being, so it’s no wonder that sleep apnea has been linked to a variety of ailments. Also, because it disrupts oxygen balance in the body, untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of a variety of cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure, heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.

How to Treat Sleep Apnea

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy (CPAP)

A CPAP machine is an equipment that aids in the treatment of sleep apnea. It increases the air pressure in your throat, keeping your airway open as you sleep. This allows you to breathe regularly, sleep more peacefully, and snore less, which can also help to improve your partner’s sleep as well.

BiPAP Machine

A BiPAP (bi-level positive airway pressure, also known as BPAP) machine works similarly to a CPAP machine in that it keeps your airways open by providing a stream of air. A BiPAP, unlike a CPAP, does not provide continuous pressure all of the time. Because some CPAP users have problems exhaling at a consistent pressure, the BiPAP provides less air when you breathe out.

Oral Appliances

Although PAP machines are more effective in alleviating sleep apnea, some people prefer oral appliances (also called mandibular advancement devices). Many of these mouthpieces are meant to widen your airway by moving your jaw forward. Others keep your mouth shut.

Surgery

Surgery is the last resort for sleep apnea. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is the most prevalent procedure. It involves the removal of the tonsils and uvula, as well as soft tissue from the back of your palate (the soft tissue that hangs down the back of your throat). Other procedures include your jawbones, soft tissue, or nose.

Lifestyle Remedies for Sleep Apnea

Self-care may be a technique for you to manage obstructive sleep apnea and perhaps central sleep apnea in some cases. Here are some suggestions to consider:

Get Rid of the Extra Pounds

Even a small weight decrease can assist to reduce throat congestion. Sleep apnea can be resolved in some situations if you return to a healthy weight, but it can recur if you gain weight.

Exercise

Even if you don’t lose weight, regular exercise can assist with the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Most days of the week, try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk stroll.

Rather than sleeping on your back, try sleeping on your side or abdomen. When you sleep on your back, your tongue and soft palate can lay against the back of your throat, obstructing your airway. Attach a tennis ball to the back of your pajama top to prevent rolling onto your back while sleeping.

Alcohol and other drugs, such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills, should be avoided. These cause the muscles in the back of your throat to relax, making breathing difficult.

Now that you Know…

Sleep apnea is harmful because it causes high blood pressure and is linked to an increased risk of heart attack, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure if left untreated. Sleep apnea has been proven in studies to reduce life expectancy by several years. As a result, it’s critical that you take the appropriate steps to manage the disorder in order to avoid serious complications.