Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by brief but repeated stoppages in breathing during sleep, and it’s our Need to Know topic this week. Last week, we looked at sleep in general, and in the past we’ve looked at insomnia. Sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans, about as common as Type 2 diabetes. Not only can sleep apnea result in daytime fatigue due to the continuously interrupted, fragmented sleep, it can also be dangerous.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, weight gain, memory loss, headaches, and even impotency. A patient’s alertness during the waking hours can also be affected, which can make it difficult to focus, and even risky to drive a car if the case of sleep apnea is severe.
Males who are overweight and over the age of 40 have the highest risk of developing sleep apnea, but it can affect anyone, even children. There are three types of sleep apnea: obtrusive sleep apnea; central sleep apnea; and mixed sleep apnea. A blockage to the airway is the cause of obtrusive sleep apnea. This usually occurs when the soft tissue located at the back of the throat collapses and then closes during sleep. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to signal your muscles to breathe, but there is no blockage. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of obtrusive and central. Each time an apnea event occurs, your brain tells your body that it needs to breathe and breathing resumes. However, in many cases, a person with sleep apnea may go without breathing for a minute or longer.
Sleep apnea is diagnosed during a sleep study, in which a patient goes to a hospital and is hooked up to a variety of devices which will monitor things like brain waves, heart rate, heart rhythm, breathing, leg movement, and more. Sleep apnea tends to be worse for those who sleep on their backs, as the airway can close more easily in this position. If you have sleep apnea and prefer to sleep on your back, there are a variety of pillows and other devices on the market that can help prop you up to keep you from closing your airway.
For the obese, losing weight can be an effective treatment for sleep apnea, as excess fat around the neck can restrict the airway, but it’s not the only cause. It should be noted that sleep apnea can occur in people who are not overweight as well. Other treatments include avoiding alcohol and any medication that depresses the central nervous system close to bedtime, oral appliances, surgery, and a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, machine.
A CPAP mask and its accompanying headgear may look like something a fighter pilot wears, but can be an invaluable tool for someone with sleep apnea. Pressurized air is gently blown through the airway to keep the throat open, assuring a good night’s sleep. For patients whose apnea may be caused by excess weight, this is a good option until they can lose the weight necessary to eliminate their condition.
Talk it up:
Do you have sleep apnea?
How do you treat it?
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