Sleep Apnea Overview
The word “apnea” is derived from Greek, which means “without breath.” As the name suggests, Sleep Apnea refers to the cessation of breathing during sleep. Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is a range of conditions that adversely impact a person’s ability to breathe normally while asleep.
Sleep apnea is a potentially fatal condition, with harmful short- and long-term complications, that affects a staggering 1 in 3 men and 1 in 6 women. These people suffer from some form of Sleep Disordered Breathing. Even mild Sleep Disordered Breathing cases, such as snoring, are loud and clear signals that the airflow of a Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) sufferer is impaired.
Any degree of such impairment is considered unhealthy. Due to the inadequate oxygen supply, the brain and other organs may lack oxygen and some individuals may wake up repeatedly during sleep. Although an individual may not recall waking up, sleep is disrupted temporarily. As a result, sleep deprivation and excessive daytime sleepiness can occur. Without sufficient quality sleep, excessive daytime fatigue will occur and interfere with daytime tasks such as work, school, and social interactions.
Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because the frequent awakenings and the inability to achieve or maintain the deeper stages of sleep can cause a higher risk of motor vehicle accidents, disturbance of mood, depression, impotence. The inability to sleep properly due to snoring and disturbed sleep leads to increased risk for other medical conditions, including irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
There are three types of Sleep Apnea:
1. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in more than 80% of sleep apnea patients, it is considered to be the most common sleep disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is mainly characterized by repeated upper airway disturbances during sleep, which causes breathing to stop for some seconds, throughout the night. This interrupted breathing causes a significant drop in oxygen levels in the blood, resulting in an episode of apnea. The patients who suffer from Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may snore, or gasp loudly as the breathing resumes during sleep. It can cause choking due to an obstructed airway.
2. Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea (CSA), so named for its relation to the central nervous system, occurs when the brain stops signaling for the body to breathe until it detects a lack of oxygen and/or a heightened level of carbon dioxide that needs to be exhaled.
3. Mixed Sleep Apnea
Complex sleep apnea (CompSA) is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and CSA Central sleep apnea (CSA).
Several factors contribute to the onset of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in people. These ranges from the anatomic abnormalities such as bodyweight, the formation and shape of the tongue, a deviated nasal septum, position of jaw can lead to Obstructive sleep apnea among many individuals. Alcohol and Smoking are also considered triggers that may cause sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Aging may also affect breathing patterns. Aging weakens the ability of the brain signals to command the throat muscles to stay stiff while a person sleeps, this either narrows or collapses the airway inducing Obstructive sleep apnea. Some other medical conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes may also be responsible for the development of Obstructive sleep apnea. Roughly 80% of people with sleep apnea don’t know they have it, partly because they can never witness their nighttime symptoms.
As with all other health disorders, the first step toward treating sleep apnea and living healthier is recognizing the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea and to consult with a sleep doctor to see if you are suffering from Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
While snoring is still the strongest predictor of sleep apnea in men and women, not everyone who snores sleep apnea. And more importantly, not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Symptoms of Sleep Apnea include but are not limited to:
- Loud or frequent snoring
- Choking or gasping while you sleep
- Feeling sluggish and lethargic in the mornings
- Suffering from insomnia
- Moodiness, irritability or depression
- Waking up with a dry mouth and sore throat
- Feeling sleepy when driving
- Being forgetful
- Constant tiredness
- Poor concentration
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- Lack of energy
- Forgetfulness
- Sexual dysfunction
- Frequent need to urinate during the night
If you have these symptoms or suspect that you may have sleep apnea, a sleep study should be carried out. The advances in technology have made it possible to where accurate sleep studies can now be performed at the convenience of your home.
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder that needs to be treated. A Sleep Specialist can help you select a treatment plan that is right for you. The first step to get treated is to confirm presence of sleep apnea with a sleep study.
Generally accepted by the medical experts that a sleep study or polysomnogram should be performed to make a diagnosis. Additionally, breathing tests and blood tests may also be needed. Sleep studies can be performed in a sleep laboratory or as a home sleep test using simple non-invasive equipment used for monitoring brain, heart, lung, and other bodily activity during sleep.
Most patients with suspected Sleep Apnea with no other serious medical disorders may be appropriate for a home sleep test. This type of sleep study lets you sleep in the comfort of your own home while a machine collects information. Once the sleep study is done you will be given a report of your test. A follow-up appointment with a sleep doctor at The Sleep Central to discuss the results can be arranged. The Sleep doctor can discuss treatment options with you.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
There are several modalities of treatment available and at Sleep Central the sleep physician will recommend the most effective therapy for you.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), is considered the gold standard in the treatment of sleep apnea. CPAP is a machine that uses a steady stream of air to gently keep your airway open throughout the night so you can breathe. You sleep with a mask with tubing that is attached to a machine kept at the bedside. Masks and machines may vary depending on your treatment and comfort needs.
An oral appliance or Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) may be used, it is a device that fits in your mouth over your teeth while you sleep. It may resemble a sports mouthguard or an orthodontic retainer. The device prevents the airway from collapsing by holding the tongue in position or by sliding your jaw forward so that you can breathe when you are asleep.
Although at times surgeries are carried out yet they are usually not as effective in treating Sleep Apnea.
Since overweight or obese people often have thick necks with extra tissue in the throat that may block the airway, in such cases weight loss may help improve sleep apnea symptoms in combination with other treatment modalities.
Positional therapy may help in overcoming the symptoms of sleep apnea. If you have mild Sleep Apnea or you only snore when you sleep on your back, you may be able to improve or eliminate your symptoms by changing your sleep position. Your airway may open if you sleep on your side instead of your back. There are a variety of products available that you can wear when you go to sleep that prevents you from sleeping on your back.
Lifestyle modifications like avoiding alcohol, sleeping 7-8 hours, and maintaining a healthy weight are extremely helpful in reducing or eliminating the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can affect your health, work, school, mood and relationships. It is important to get effective treatment to ensure a relaxing, restful and refreshing sleep. We, at Sleep Central, are dedicated to providing our patients with a good night’s sleep.