What is Sleep Apnea?

 

Types of Sleep Apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is defined by interrupted breathing during sleep caused by an obstruction in your airway

Causes for OSA:

  • An abnormal throat shape that promotes your tongue to fall towards the back of your throat and block your airway during sleep as your muscles relax
  • Excessive fat tissue surrounding the upper airway which can compress a person’s chest wall, decreasing lung volume and diminishing airflow
A diagram illustrating Obstruction Sleep Apnea (OSA).

The likelihood that someone has Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be determined with the acronym, STOPBANG.

Snoring is an indication that your tongue has caused an obstruction in your airway due to the anatomy of your soft palate and jaw.

If you have been observed to gasp for air or stop breathing in your sleep, your airway may have an obstruction causing OSA.

If you are excessively tired and sleepy throughout the day, you may not be getting enough oxygen during sleep, which is a sign of OSA.

A symptom of OSA is hypertension or high blood pressure.

Those with a BMI of 30 or higher are more likely to have OSA.

The risk of developing OSA increases after the age of 50.

A normal neck size for women is 14in and 16in for men; a larger neck size increases the likelihood for having OSA.

Males are at higher risk for OSA than females due to upper airway anatomy and hormone difference

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

  • Snoring
  • Gasping for air or choking during sleep
  • Witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep
  • Morning headaches
  • Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
  • Concentration issues
  • Nocturia (bladder disturbances during sleep)
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular heart beat
  • Leg swelling
  • Dry mouth when awakening from sleep
  • Restless sleep
  • Sexual dysfunction

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when your brain doesn’t send the proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing during sleep causing abnormal breathing patterns.

Causes for CSA:

  • Underlying illnesses or history of stroke
  • Use of narcotics/opioids – such as pain medication or illicit substances such as heroin

Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnea involves the occurrence of both central and obstructive breathing events during one’s sleep

Diagram showing Side Effects From Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Treatments

Based on the results of your sleep study and severity of your diagnosis, your doctor will recommend one of the following treatments:

  • Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) machine which gives you forced air to breathe, preventing your airway from collapsing
  • Mandibular advancement device (MAD) which moves the lower jaw forward to reduce airway obstruction
  • Inspire which involves the surgical implantation of a pacemaker that stimulates airway muscles, allowing the airway to remain open during sleep
  • Positional therapy for those who have obstructive sleep apnea in specific sleeping positions

  • Significant Weight Loss

Mandibular advancement device (MAD)

Sleep Hygiene Rules are tips to get a good night’s sleep

  • Keep regular hours: Try to go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day.
  • Stay away from stimulants like caffeine: Avoid all stimulants in the evening, including chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeinated teas. They delay sleep and increase arousals during the night.
  • Use the bed for sleeping: Avoid watching television or using laptop computers. If it helps to read before sleep, use a very small watt bulb (15 watts) to read.
  • Avoid bright light around the house before bed: Use dimmer switches in living rooms and bathrooms before going to bed.
  • Avoid exercise near bedtime: Do not engage in exercise at least 3 hours before bed.
  • Don’t go to bed hungry: Have a light snack but avoid a heavy meal before bed.
  • Avoid looking at the clock: If you wake up in the middle of the night, turn the clock away from your eyes so you would have to turn it to see the time. You may decide not to make the effort and go right back to sleep.
  • If you can’t get to sleep for more than 30 minutes, get out of bed and do something boring in dim light until you are sleepy.
  • Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature: Choose a temperature that is not too warm and not too cold; cooler is better than warmer.
  • Beware of the “night cap”: Alcohol may help you to get to sleep, but it will cause you to wake up throughout the night, even if you don’t notice it.
  • If you have a sleeping partner, ask him or her if he or she notices any snoring, leg movements, or pauses in breathing. You may have a sleep disorder.