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Last Updated September 20, 2024
Sleep apnea is more than just loud snoring—it’s a serious sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It causes breathing interruptions during sleep, leading to restless nights and groggy days. In this blog, we'll explore what sleep apnea is, its signs, and why getting it diagnosed and treated is crucial for your health and well-being.
Sleep apnea is known to be a sleep disorder that can lead to many health conditions. Untreated sleep apnea can cause loud snoring, daytime tiredness, and severe problems like high blood pressure or even heart trouble.
You need to understand that this condition is different from regular or primary snoring. Primary snoring by an individual can be caused by their sleeping style (especially back sleeping) and nose or throat conditions. At the same time, primary snoring and sleep apnea happen when the upper airway becomes blocked many times during sleep due to the irregular relaxing of throat muscles.
People with sleep apnea tend to:
Sleep apnea can be mainly divided into these types :
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type, and it occurs when there is repeated blockage of the upper airway (completely or partially). Anything that could narrow your airways, such as obesity, enlarged tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels, can result in an increased risk for obstructive sleep apnea.
When a person with suspected obstructive sleep apnea is having an apneic episode, their diaphragm and chest muscles work harder as there is an increase in pressure to open the airway; their breathing usually resumes, followed by a loud gasp or body jerk. When this happens, they stop breathing.
Episodes of sleep apnea can disturb your healthy sleep, reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs, and cause heart rhythm irregularities.
Central sleep apnea is a condition where the airway does not become blocked. Instead, your brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe because of the issues of instability in your respiratory control center, which results in an inability to fall asleep. Central apnea syndrome is related to the functioning of the central nervous system.
Central sleep apnea occurs most often in individuals with neuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), those who have suffered a stroke, and people with heart failure or other forms of lung, kidney, or heart disease.
Complex sleep apnea is known as a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Doctors also call this condition treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.
The symptoms of sleep apnea include abnormal nighttime breathing, breathlessness, restlessness, and daytime tiredness, which is the effect of reduced sleep quality.
Frequent symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
A person with obstructive sleep apnea may not be aware of certain symptoms right away, but their sleeping partner, roommate, or family member may notice them. For example, abnormal breathing and loud snoring may come to the individual's attention only after they are observed by their bed partner.
Obstructive sleep apnea cannot be diagnosed just by these symptoms alone, since many of these symptoms can also result from other health problems.
Central sleep Apnea causes dysfunction in the central nervous system. There are also symptoms of :
The causes of breathing disorders differ in the cases of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
In people with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in the back of the neck relax during sleep, reducing the space for air to pass through. Snoring occurs when the airways narrow, and when the airways are blocked, a person is not getting enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen causes a partial or complete awakening to restore airflow. These breathing disorders repeatedly occur during sleep.
Central sleep apnea occurs because of problems with your brain's communication with the muscles responsible for breathing. In people with central sleep apnea syndrome, a part of the brain called the brainstem fails to correctly recognize carbon dioxide levels in the body during sleep, and there is an increased risk of neurological disorders. This leads to frequent apneic episodes of breathing that are slower and shallower than they should be.
There is a lot of confusion and tension among people when they want to know whether they have sleep apnea or not. It is always better to seek the advice of a medical expert to diagnose this condition of restless sleep. Doctors diagnose sleep apnea patients based on medical and family histories, physical exams, and sleep study results. There are people who have mild sleep apnea, and there are conditions with severe sleep apnea. The doctor will diagnose according to each patient's given condition.
If you think you or your loved ones have these above-mentioned symptoms, then it is suggested that you go and meet a doctor. Additionally, if your doctor suspects you have sleep apnea, you may be asked to undergo a sleep evaluation with a sleep specialist or be prescribed sleep medication.
Undiagnosed sleep apnea can result in various health issues, like difficulty breathing and neurological disorders. It’s recommended to diagnose and manage sleep apnea as soon as possible.
In mild cases of OSA, conservative therapy may be an effective treatment method.
Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is one of the preferred initial treatments for most individuals with obstructive sleep apnea.
In PAP therapy, patients wear a mask over their noses and/or mouths. An air blower gently pushes air through the nose or mouth. The air pressure is adjusted to be just enough, which prevents the upper airway tissues from collapsing during sleep. PAP therapy prevents airway closure during use, but episodes of apnea return when PAP is stopped or used incorrectly. Depending on the specific needs of the patients, there are various styles and types of positive airway pressure devices designed. Styles and types include:
Mandibular advancement devices are designed for patients suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Advanced devices, such as dental appliances or oral mandibular advancement appliances, can be made to help prevent the tongue from blocking the throat or moving the mandible forward. These are the devices that help keep the airway open during sleep. A sleep examiner and dentist (with experience in oral appliances for this purpose) should work together to determine if this treatment is best for you.
The hypoglossal nerve stimulator is implanted under the skin, to the right side of the chest, with the electrodes under the skin to the hypoglossal nerve and to the intercostal muscles (between the two ribs) in the chest. The device is turned on before going to bed using the remote control. With each breath you take, the hypoglossal nerve is stimulated, the tongue moves forward from the airway, and the airway opens.
Surgical procedures can help individuals with OSA and other individuals who snore but do not have sleep apnea. Outpatient procedures are among the many types of surgery performed. The surgery is for people with excessive or deformed tissue that prevents airflow through the nose or throat, as in people with a deviated septum, significantly enlarged tonsils, or a small lower jaw with an overbite that causes an abnormally narrow throat. These procedures are usually performed after sleep apnea fails to respond to conservative measures and a trial of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Types of surgery include:
Now that we know sleep apnea is a serious medical condition, the complications may include the following:
The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea prevent normal, restorative sleep, causing severe daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and irritability in an individual. You may have trouble concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at your office, watching TV, or even while driving. Individuals with sleep apnea are at an increased risk of vehicle accidents and workplace accidents. You may also feel moody, short-tempered, or depressed. Children and adolescents with sleep apnea may perform poorly in school or have behavioral problems.
The case with sleep apnea patients is that there is a sudden drop in blood oxygen levels, increased blood pressure, and stress in the cardiovascular system. OSA increases the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension).
OSA can also increase the risk of recurrent heart attacks, strokes, and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you suffer from heart disease, multiple episodes of lack of oxygen in the blood can lead to sudden death when you stop breathing from an irregular heartbeat.
If you have sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, it increases your risk of developing insulin resistance. Diabetes is also associated with other sleep-related symptoms, such as snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Metabolic syndrome is a disorder that includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, increased waist circumference, and high blood sugar and is considered to be associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
Obstructive sleep apnea is also a problem with some medications and general anesthesia. People with sleep apnea may be more likely to have complications after major surgery because they are prone to breathing problems, especially when sedating and lying on their backs. Before surgery, tell your doctor about your sleep apnea and how it is being treated.
People who have sleep apnea disorder are more likely to have abnormal liver test results, and there are chances that their livers are likely to show symptoms of scarring (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).
If you have untreated sleep apnea, snoring can prevent anyone sleeping near you from getting a good night's rest. However, it is not uncommon for the partner to have to go to the other room or to another floor of the house to sleep.
If you are somebody who is living with sleep apnea, you need not worry much. Below are some practical steps that can help people who have sleep apnea cope with this condition.
It is suggested to stay in touch with your primary care doctor or sleep specialist and report any persistent symptoms, problems with treatment, or other concerns that may require the modification of your sleep apnea management plan. Try to explain your condition clearly to your doctor without trying to hide anything that could lead to improving your condition.
Whether you use a PAP device or a mouthpiece, you must take proper care of them by cleaning and maintaining their hygiene. This will help you get the most from your treatment and avoid unwanted side effects.
People who have sleep apnea should be aware of the risks of daytime fatigue. In particular, people with untreated sleep apnea should avoid activities such as driving or operating heavy machinery when tired, as this would expose them to a higher risk. Try to engage yourself with activities that keep you focused, and try to calm yourself when you are getting tense.
Although the effect of a change in sleeping position has not been rigorously studied, special products that help avoid sleeping on your back may help relieve the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in some people and help them have healthy sleep. There are several sleeping positions that will cause body pain and discomfort while sleeping, and it is always better to sleep in a position that will ease your breathing.
One of the most important factors that you have to look at is your sleep environment, and if you have a disturbing sleep environment, it will hinder you from falling asleep. To fall asleep fast, you have to have a good bedroom environment. Try to keep the devices away, and have a routine and a strict principle of not using any devices before 30 minutes of going to sleep. This could help in concentrating better, as some people have an impulse to use devices even while they are asleep.
Sleep apnea worsens in people who are generally negligent towards their health and lifestyle. Many of us are stressed in our day-to-day lives, and we tend to ignore our healthy sleep. Now it is very important to understand your body and cater to its needs before the health conditions get severe. Those who tend to ignore the signs and symptoms in the early stages face a hard time in the later stages.
People with obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are advised to -
Having a healthy diet and exercising regularly can do wonders for your health. The odds of having sleep apnea increase when you're not physically active. Regular movements in your body not only raise your energy level but also boost your oxygen levels, help you shed fat around your upper airway, and help you feel less sleepy. So try to work out for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, as this would help improve your sleep quality.
The consumption of alcohol and smoking can worsen your sleep apnea, as there are studies that suggest that people who usually drink a lot of alcohol tend to put on weight. If you are somebody who has a hard time quitting alcohol, you can control your alcohol intake by taking considerable measures and strictly ensuring that you do not drink 3-4 hours prior to bedtime.
Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health because of the toxic chemicals present in them. Smoking will only cause poor quality and might as well result in other severe health complications.
Yes, you can take medicines for the treatment of sleep apnea, but only if they are prescribed by a doctor. It is strongly advised to refrain from taking any sleeping pills, opioids, or any sort of strong painkiller without the doctor's prescription, as these can slow down your breathing rate, relax the breathing muscles even more, and pose a threat to your life.
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Disclaimer: What is said in this article has been referenced from multiple sources and is intended only for educational and informational purposes. Please note that no content in this article is a substitute for professional advice from a qualified doctor or healthcare provider. Always consult an experienced doctor with any concerns you may have regarding a health condition or treatment, and never disregard any medical suggestions or delay in seeking treatment because of something you read here.
