Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder affecting over 18 million American sleepers. It's a condition in which a person's breathing is continuously interrupted during sleep. Breathing can be interrupted for as few as 10 seconds to as many as 60 seconds or longer.

In order to get breathing to resume, the brain has to awaken the individual each time breathing halts. The cycle of breathing disruption/brain awakening can repeat hundreds of times during a single sleep period.

Sleep apnea deprives the body of sleep and also of oxygen. If left untreated it will get worse. High blood pressure can develop as can other types of cardiovascular disease. Sleep apnea can become so severe that it could endanger your life.

Symptoms and Causes

The most obvious symptom of sleep apnea is a constant feeling of grogginess throughout the day. Many people with this disorder will frequently fall asleep during daytime hours. This makes sense since a person with sleep apnea does not ever fall into a deep sleep.

There are other symptoms associated with sleep apnea. Those associated with sleeping including profusely sweating during sleep, gasping or choking, unusually loud snoring and waking suddenly and/or frequently to catch breath.

When you are awake you may experience an inability to focus, concentrate and/or remember. Sleep apnea can also cause morning headaches and a sore throat or dry mouth upon awakening. Your attention span may be shorter and your judgment may not be as good. You may experience mood swings or depression. Impotence and weight gain are also symptoms.

Those with untreated sleep apnea can suffer other consequences including an increased risk of becoming involved in driving-related accidents and a reduced ability to carry out work-related functions.

The word apnea is actually a Greek word and it means 'without breath'. In one type of sleep apnea, the muscles inside the windpipe located at the back of the throat soften and as they soften, they relax, causing a blockage inside this airway.

Because these muscles support the tongue, tonsils or uvula, these body parts can also cause the blockage. The blockage prevents an adequate supply of air from entering. This most common form of sleep apnea is referred to as OSA or Obstructed Sleep Apnea.

With Central Sleep Apnea, a far less common form of sleep apnea, there is no blockage. Instead, for some reason the brain is not able to send the messages necessary to instruct the appropriate muscles to carry out the breathing function. Blocked airways and loss of brain control can also occur simultaneously resulting in a form of sleep apnea called Mixed Apnea.

Several factors are believed responsible for causing sleep apnea. Males aged 40 or older make up the largest risk group. Being overweight is an aggravating factor, as is smoking, alcohol and sedative use. An irregular sleep schedule, a family history, nasal congestion, snoring and problems with the tonsils, adenoids, tongue, chin, septum, vocal cords and more can all contribute to sleep apnea.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea are two very important steps in bringing sleep apnea under control.

Some think that loud snoring is indicative of sleep apnea but this isn't always true. Snoring does accompany some cases, but not all. If you think you are suffering from sleep apnea and you have a sleeping partner, that partner can help you make an initial diagnosis.

With paper and pen, your partner should record the number of times there is a disruption in your breathing. It's easy to tell because you'll either stop breathing, or you'll make gasping, choking or snorting sounds as you attempt to get your breath back. Making notes about your snoring is also helpful. You can also get a tape recorder and put it on 'Record' while you sleep.

The majority of sleep apnea occurs in men aged 40 or older who are also overweight. If you fall into this category and you know you've experienced sleep apnea symptoms, your doctor likely will suspect sleep apnea. If in doubt, your doctor can look for obstructions in the nose and mouth and examine your throat and nose using either an endoscopy or an X-ray. A CT scan of the neck and head is another diagnosis tool.

Should more information be needed, an absolute diagnosis can easily be confirmed by spending a night in a sleep center so that your sleeping pattern can be monitored.

The most common treatment option for individuals diagnosed with sleep apnea is use of a CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine. The machine is attached to a mask with a plastic tube measuring several feet in length. The mask fits over the nose and/or mouth and while asleep, a continuous supply of pressurized air is forced through the tube which helps keep the airway open.

There is also a surgical procedure that can remove troublesome tissue from the nose, throat or mouth. Some patients may find that their jaws need to be reconstructed.

If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you can self-treat. The most effective type of self-treatment is weight loss. Simply losing 10% of your body can make a dramatic difference. You will also notice a difference if you stop smoking and consuming alcohol. If you use sedatives, that too should be discontinued. In addition, you should get yourself on a regular sleep schedule, one in which you can sleep during nighttime hours. If you prefer sleeping on your back, it's time to switch to sleeping on your side.

There's a mouth piece you can use to help with sleep apnea. It works while sleeping by opening the airways and realigning your jaw or tongue.

There are benefits and disadvantages associated with each of these treatments for sleep apnea and you should thoroughly discuss these with your doctor before proceeding. Just remember that you've got to do something because your sleep apnea will not go away on its own.