top of page

Sleep Apnea 
What is It? Why Does it Matter?

What Is sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep. These pauses can occur multiple times per hour and may last for several seconds to minutes, leading to disrupted sleep patterns and decreased oxygen levels in the blood. Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping or choking sounds during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and irritability. Sleep apnea can have serious health consequences if left untreated, including an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and daytime fatigue. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA):

This is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax excessively during sleep, causing the airway to collapse or become blocked. This obstruction leads to pauses in breathing or shallow breathing, often accompanied by snoring or choking sounds as breathing resumes.

Aerial View of Clouds

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA):

In central sleep apnea, the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. This results in a lack of effort to breathe, leading to temporary pauses in breathing during sleep. Unlike OSA, there is no physical obstruction in the airway. CSA is less common than OSA and is often associated with certain medical conditions such as heart failure, stroke, or brainstem injury.

Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea:

Also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, this type of sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea. It typically begins as obstructive sleep apnea but may transition to central sleep apnea with the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which can destabilize breathing patterns in some individuals.

Symptoms

​

  • Loud and persistent snoring:

    • One of the hallmark symptoms of sleep apnea is loud and frequent snoring, often accompanied by snorting, gasping, or choking sounds as breathing resumes after a pause.

  • Episodes of breathing cessation during sleep:

    • People with sleep apnea may experience pauses in breathing during sleep, often lasting for several seconds to minutes. These episodes are usually followed by gasping or choking as breathing resumes.

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness:

    • Individuals often feel excessively tired during the day, even after a full night's sleep. 

  • Morning headaches:

    • Waking up with a headache, particularly in the morning, is a common symptom. The headaches are typically dull and may improve as the day progresses.

  • Fatigue and irritability:

    • Sleep disturbances caused by sleep apnea can result in daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. 

  • Difficulty with concentration and memory:

    •  impairment to cognitive function, leading to problems with concentration, memory, and decision-making.

  • Dry mouth or sore throat:

    • Breathing through the mouth during sleep, which is common in individuals with sleep apnea, can cause dry mouth or a sore throat upon waking.

  • Frequent nighttime urination:

    • Some individuals with sleep apnea may experience nocturia, which is the need to urinate frequently during the night. This can disrupt sleep and contribute to daytime fatigue.

 

​

Treatment

  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy:

    • CPAP is the most common and effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over the nose or both nose and mouth during sleep, which is connected to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of air to keep the airway open.

  • Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) therapy: 

    • BiPAP delivers air at two different pressures, higher during inhalation and lower during exhalation.

  • Lifestyle changes:

    • Losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bedtime, quitting smoking, and sleeping on your side instead of your back can help reduce symptoms of sleep apnea, especially in mild cases.

  • Surgery:

    • Surgical options include procedures to remove excess tissue from the throat, reposition the jaw, or implant devices to keep the airway open.

  • Positional therapy:

    • For individuals with positional obstructive sleep apnea (where symptoms are worse when sleeping on the back), special devices or positional therapy techniques can help encourage sleeping on the side.

  • Treatment for underlying conditions:

    • Treating underlying medical conditions such as nasal congestion, allergies, or hypothyroidism can sometimes improve symptoms of sleep apnea.

  • Oral appliances:

    • Dental devices or mouthguards can be custom-made by a dentist to help keep the airway open by repositioning the jaw or tongue during sleep. These devices are typically used for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea or for individuals who cannot tolerate CPAP.

bottom of page