Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when an individual stops breathing repeatedly during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. To counter each sleep apnea occurrence, the brain briefly rouses an individual from sleep to help trigger breathing, resulting in fragmented sleep that leaves the individual unrested. Sleep apnea is quite common, affecting more than 12 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.

There are three types of sleep apnea, including:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) - The most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is a condition resulting from a blockage or obstruction of the airway during sleep. Most obstructions to the airway during sleep are caused by soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapsing, cutting off air flow through the nose, mouth and throat.
 
• Central sleep apnea (CSA) - Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is not a result of an airway blockage or obstruction, rather is caused by a central nervous system condition where the brain fails to instruct the muscles used for breathing to function properly, if at all. central sleep apnea can be caused by conditions such as a stroke, brain tumor, viral brain infection or a chronic respiratory disease.
 
• Mixed sleep apnea (MSA) - Mixed sleep apnea is a condition that combines the causes of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, where an airway obstruction occurs in addition to the brain failing to initiate the breathing muscles to function.

Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
The majority of individuals suffering from sleep apnea remain undiagnosed and untreated. While sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, including children, the following common risk factors associated with sleep apnea may help you determine if you might be suffering from this condition.

• Being overweight or obese
• Being over the age of forty
• Being male
• Large tonsils or adenoids (the prominent oval masses of lymphoid tissues on either side of the throat)
• Physical characteristics such as a deviated septum, receding chin or enlarged tongue
• Nasal congestion or blockage due to a cold, sinusitis, allergies or smoking
• Overly relaxed throat muscles or tongue during sleep (due to alcohol or sedative use or age)

Fact About Sleep

• The National Institutes of Health reports that 40 million Americans suffer from chronic, long-standing sleep disorders. Another 20 million have occasional problems getting – or staying – asleep.
• Sleep disorders often remain unidentified and undiagnosed. Nearly one in two who have the deadliest sleep disorder – sleep apnea – remain undiagnosed.
• There are more than 70 sleep disorders.
• Insomnia and sleep apnea account for more than 50 percent of all sleep disorder diagnoses.
• An estimated one in five adults has some form of sleep apnea. One in 15 adults suffers from moderate and severe forms of the disorder.
• Untreated sleep apnea has been linked with three of the four leading causes of death. Of the four – heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – only cancer has not been associated with sleep apnea.

Health Effects of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, if untreated, can lead to serious health consequences, including:

• Sleep deprivation
• High blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease
• A compromised immune system
• Learning/memory problems
• Poor mental or emotional health
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• Impotency or sexual dysfunction
• Headaches
• Risk of job impairment and/or motor vehicle crashes due to sleep deprivation

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
While medical professionals will need to make a proper diagnosis of sleep apnea, often through an overnight sleep study at a sleep clinic used to measure how frequently breathing stops, there are warning signs and symptoms that may help to identify this condition. Signs of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Choking or gasping during sleep to induce air intake
• Frequent silences during sleep due to breathing cessation
• Awakening during sleep to trigger breathing

Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Once sleep apnea is properly diagnosed by a medical professional, there are several treatment options to help alleviate the health concerns and effects, depending on the severity of the condition. These include:

• Avoid sleeping on your back. Obstructive sleep apnea is typically experienced when sleeping on the back, as the tongue is more likely to fall into a position that covers the airway and/or airway muscles and tissues such as the tonsils are more likely to collapse. Sleeping in alternate positions other than on the back can help reduce sleep apnea.
 
• Weight loss. Sleep apnea can be related to being overweight, as excess fat around the neck can cause a narrower airway, leading to the increase in likeliness of obstruction. Weight loss can help alleviate symptoms.
 
• Avoiding alcohol consumption and other sedatives. Alcohol and other sedatives may further relax airway muscles, leading to sleep apnea conditions. Avoid these substances, whenever possible, near bedtime.
 
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, a CPAP device is used to gently blow air pressure through the airway, keeping the airway open throughout the night.
 
• Surgical procedures to further open the airway so obstructions are less likely, including the removal of tonsils, adenoids or excess tissue at the back of the throat are also treatment options.

Consult with a medical professional or sleep specialist to determine which treatment option is best for you.