What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which the person has difficulties breathing at night. More specifically, breathing will stop and start throughout the night, resulting in disturbed sleep and the person not getting enough oxygen throughout the night.
There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax. The throat muscles support the soft palate, the tonsils, side wall, and tongue. If the throat muscles are relaxed, the throat narrows, so it’s difficult for people to breathe. This is the most common form of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is when the brain isn’t sending the correct signals that control breathing. And complex sleep apnea syndrome is when a person has both obstructive and central sleep apnea.
People of all ages are affected by sleep apnea, including children, but there are some factors that increase the likelihood that a person will experience this condition. One of them is having excess weight around the neck or simply having a neck with a larger circumference even if being overweight isn’t an issue. The extra tissue can make the breathing passageways more narrow. Additionally, some people just have narrowed airways or tonsils and adenoids that get in the way of breathing at night.
Males are also at an increased risk, with men about two to three times as likely as women to experience the condition. Age can also affect the likelihood that someone has sleep apnea, and this is also true for women past menopausal age.
A family history of sleep apnea, use of certain types of sedative drugs, smoking, and some medical conditions can also increase the likelihood of having sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
There are several primary symptoms of sleep apnea, and having sleep apnea makes people more prone to developing other, related conditions. One of the most noticeable signs of sleep apnea is loud snoring and gasping for air during sleep. Other people living with the person with sleep apnea might also report that the person has periods of time where they don’t breathe at all while sleeping. The person might have some of these symptoms without realizing until someone else tells them. That’s why people living alone should be aware of the symptoms so that they’re able to tell their medical provider.
The person suffering from sleep apnea might also awake with a dry mouth, which is caused by the gasping for breath and snoring. Additionally, they might experience insomnia because their sleep apnea wakes them up, and they might have morning headaches because of their poor sleep. Later in the day, they’re more likely to have difficulties staying awake and paying attention when awake, and they might be more irritable due to lack of sleep.
One of the illnesses that sleep apnea can make more likely to occur is high blood pressure. People who have sleep apnea experience drops in their oxygen level at night, which puts a strain on the cardiovascular system and increases blood pressure.
People are also more likely to develop insulin resistance and type II diabetes. They’re also more likely to develop metabolic syndrome.
Treatments of Sleep Apnea
There are several types of treatment available, but the best treatment option can vary from one person to the next. For instance, losing weight might help overweight people, and avoiding alcohol and tranquilizers before bed will make it less likely that their throat muscles relax. Additionally, when smokers quit, they won’t have as much inflamed tissue. Sleeping on the side or stomach can bring relief to some because the soft palate is less likely to rest against their throat.
There are also several types of machines and appliances that can help keep the airways open, regulate breathing patterns, and provide oxygen to the wearer. The CPAP machine is one of the most commonly used types of devices. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and this machine is placed over the nose to provide a slight air pressure that’s strong enough to keep airways open.
Oral appliances are another option. This type of device keeps the jaw forward to keep the airways clear, and some people prefer this option because they think that it’s easier to use and keep on at night than a CPAP machine.
An adaptive servo-ventilation device is a newer machine on the market that learns the wearer’s breathing patterns and delivers air pressure at different rates to normalize breathing and prevent stops in breathing throughout the night.
Surgeries are another form of treatment. Tissue removal and tissue shrinkage are both options as a way to get rid of the extra tissue at the back of the mouth that’s causing the obstruction. Jaw repositioning and inserting implants to keep the airways open are two other options.
