Do you or somebody you know suffer from sleep apnea?
People with sleep apnea experience pauses in their breathing
at night time that is usually associated with snoring. These
pauses can be brief or may even last up to 40 seconds. This
can happen repetitively adding up to several hundred times a
night. Those who have sleep apnea may not be aware of these pauses in their breathing. These
interruptions disturb restful sleep. Because these symptoms occur during sleep it may be their
partner who notices the apnea first. The partner may notice pauses in breathing and even feel
like they need to wake them up out of fear that they may not take a breath. People with
obstructive sleep apnea may wake up feeling tired, irritable and fatigued. They may also
experience forgetfulness or brain fog during the day, have headaches and mood changes. Men
who are overweight and over 40 years old are most likely to develop sleep apnea, however it
can affect anyone, including children.
So what causes sleep apnea? Most sleep apnea is caused by obstruction of the airway. The
soft tissues of the mouth, the tongue, tonsils and uvula, when sleeping, fall back and occlude
the throat. This causes loud snoring, gasping and the pauses in breathing.
A much less common type of sleep apnea is called central sleep apnea. This is a disruption in
the signal from the brain to the muscles of breathing.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed? Talking with your doctor is the first place to start. They may
ask you some questions and have you fill out a screening form. If there is significant concern for
sleep apnea you may need to have a sleep study test. People who are good candidates, may
have the sleep study done at home, others may require going to a sleep center to have a full
polysomnogram sleep study.
What can be done to avoid sleep apnea?
Simple things that can be done are to sleep on your side; avoid sedating medications, sleep
medications, muscle relaxants and alcohol. It’s best to have an active lifestyle and maintain a
healthy weight.
How can sleep apnea be treated?
Most cases of sleep apnea are treated with CPAP, which is a bedside machine that provides
continuous positive airway pressure that is usually delivered by a mask or nose pillow. These
machines have become compact and quiet. They are also becoming more mobile. A small
percentage of people will not tolerate CPAP and may be best served with dental devices and in
rare cases may even need to have surgery to remove the tonsils and extra tissue from the back
of the throat.
Why is it important to treat sleep apnea? Sleep apnea increases blood pressure and
contributes to heart failure. It may also increase the risk of stroke, diabetes and weight gain,
mental or behavioral disorders, depression and affect quality of life.
If you have concerns that you may have obstructive sleep apnea make an appointment and we
can discuss and formulate a plan.
If you have concerns that you may have obstructive sleep apnea make an appointment and we
can discuss and formulate a plan.
–Dr W
