The value of a good night’s sleep for our overall health and wellness is widely known. However, for millions of individuals, a condition known as sleep apnea disrupts the tranquility of their nightly rest, posing a threat to their sleep quality and total health. In this blog, we’ll discuss the intricacies and lesser-known facts of sleep apnea.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

According to Mayo Clinic, sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly starts and stops throughout the night. There are three main types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form, occurring when the muscles at the back of the throat relax excessively. This can allow for the uvula, tonsils, and/or tongue to fall back in the throat, partially or completely blocking airflow. People with OSA will often wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air once the brain realizes the lungs are not getting enough oxygen.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

Central sleep apnea is when the brain is not sending proper messages to the muscles that control breathing. Although this type of sleep apnea shares many of the same symptoms as OSA, CSA usually affects people who have underlying illnesses that affect the brain or brainstem. This type can also be harder to diagnose since the symptoms are more subtle than OSA.

Complex/Mixed Sleep Apnea

Complex sleep apnea is when someone has been diagnosed with OSA but converts to CSA while receiving therapy for OSA.

Prevalence

Sleep apnea is more common than most people think. It is estimated that over 39 million adults in the United States suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Of that number, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) believes that up to 80% are undiagnosed. Sleep apnea is far more prevalent in older adults. One study found that 56% of people at age 65 or older are at a high risk of developing OSA.

Symptoms

One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is loud snoring combined with choking or gasping during sleep. Oftentimes, a person with sleep apnea will wake up drowsy and disoriented and continue to experience excessive daytime sleepiness because the interruptions in breathing can lead to fragmented sleep. Other symptoms include waking during the night and gasping or choking, having a dry mouth or sore throat in the morning, mood changes (i.e. depression or being easily upset), high blood pressure, and/or morning headaches.

Risk Factors

While sleep apnea can affect anyone, certain factors increase the risk.

Age: As you get older, fatty tissue can build up in the neck and tongue and raise the risk of sleep apnea.

Obesity: Obese people have increased fat deposits in the neck, which can block the upper airway.

Sex: Men are more likely to have sleep apnea and at a younger age than women.

Family history and genetics: Sleep apnea is inherited, so be sure to talk to your primary care physician if you have a family history of the disorder. Genetics such as large tonsils, a thick neck, or a large tongue create a higher chance for sleep apnea to occur.

Heart or kidney failure: These conditions cause fluid to build up in your neck, which in turn can block the upper airway.

Lifestyle habits: Drinking alcohol can relax your mouth and throat muscles, which could potentially close your upper airway. Excessive alcohol consumption raises the risk of sleep apnea occurring. Smoking causes inflammation in your upper airway, which affects breathing.

Association with Type 2 Diabetes: There is a bidirectional relationship between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing sleep apnea, and untreated sleep apnea can worsen insulin resistance. Sleep apnea deprives the body of oxygen, which in turn reduces glucose levels.

When To Consult a Doctor

Although loud snoring isn’t necessarily a sign of sleep apnea, you should still bring it up to your healthcare professional, especially if it is interrupted with periods of silence. This could be an indication that there is a pause in your breathing during sleep. Snoring may be the loudest when you sleep on your back, along with more frequent episodes of breath pauses. Also, consult your doctor if you have excessive daytime drowsiness, to the point where it is inhibiting your work or ability to operate a vehicle.

Treatment

Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to drastic declines in cardiovascular and metabolic health. Strokes, heart attacks, and heart disease are more likely for those with sleep apnea, and, although rare, it is possible for a person with untreated OSA to die in their sleep.

Effective treatments for sleep apnea include lifestyle changes (such as weight loss and exercise), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, dental devices, and in some cases, positional therapy.

In more severe cases, surgical interventions can help reduce symptoms. A Westlake University study showed that both invasive and non-invasive treatments can lead to a reduction of nightly breathing difficulty. Doctors will prescribe different treatment options based on the severity of the patient’s apnea.

The biggest concern of sleep apnea is that many may not know that they have it. By spreading awareness, understanding the risk factors, and exploring effective treatments, you will have a better chance at recognizing and dealing with this widespread yet often underestimated sleep disorder. The journey to better sleep begins with knowledge and a commitment to prioritizing the quality of rest for a healthier and more fulfilling life!