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 ABOUT SLEEP APNEA  

WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?

There are three main types of sleep apnea:  Obstructive, Central and Complex

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the more common of the three.  Characterized by loud and frequent snoring, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tongue and soft palate collapse onto the back of the throat, blocking the upper airway. This obstruction causes you to stop breathing up to hundreds of times a night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute.  

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Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals to the muscles to breathe due to an instability in the respiratory control center of the brain.

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Complex Sleep Apnea (CompSA) is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

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Although the symptoms for all three types of sleep apnea are similar, the treatment options are not equally effective or appropriate.  Oral appliance therapy is one of the treatment options that has been proven to effectively manage mild to moderate OSA and, in some cases, severe OSA but is generally not appropriate for CSA. Therefore, it is imperative to determine exactly which condition you have through diagnosis by a physician with a  sleep study to ensure these serious disorders are being addressed correctly.  If left untreated, sleep apnea is a potentially life threatening disease that can increase the risk for serious health problems.  These problems include congestive heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression and impotence. 

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WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS DURING SLEEP?

 

While asleep, the muscles of the body naturally relax, including the muscles that keep your airway open, called pharyngeal dilator muscles.  If the muscles relax too much or the spacing in your throat is already narrow, the airway becomes partially blocked (as occurs with snoring) or completely closed off and breathing stops.  When the body tries to force air through a narrowed passage, the airflow becomes turbulent causing the tissues of the palate (roof of the mouth) and throat to vibrate, giving rise to snoring.

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A person who suffers from sleep apnea stops breathing for a period of time that can last seconds to over a minute. This drop in oxygen to the brain mimics someone who is suffocating.  The brain responds by activating the nervous system to a state of distress which then acts to wake the body up just enough to start breathing again. Sometimes the person is aware of waking up. Most times there is only a microarousal which is enough to return the body to normal breathing, but not enough to fully awaken the person.  This is why most people usually don't recall ever waking up at night.  These repeated awakenings and microacrousals keep the person from reaching the deep stage of sleep that is needed for the body and brain to refresh itself.  The alarming fact is this harmful cycle can repeat itself hundreds of times per night.  Therefore, despite having "slept" the whole night, a person will never feel like they slept well and will oftentimes feel tired the next day.

 

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SIGNS  & SYMPTOMS
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Have you or a loved one noticed any of the following?
                                      

  • Loud Snoring                                  

  • Gasping or choking during sleep

  • Pauses in breathing during sleep      

  • Teeth Grinding                              

  • Multiple awakenings                       

  • Insomnia                                        

  • Frequent nighttime urination          

  • Sleepiness during the day 

  • Dozing off without meaning to                 

  • Fatigue                                            

  • Morning Headaches                        

  • Unrefreshed Sleep                           

  • Irritability                                         

  • Depression                                        

  • Impaired Memory/Concentration 

  • Drowsy Driving

  • Sleepiness that has resulted in a car accident or a "near-miss"

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RISK FACTORS
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There are certain factors that increase your risk for having sleep apnea:
                                      

  • Male                                  

  • Post-menopausal Female                

  • Pregnancy                           

  • Excess weight (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30) 

  • Large Neck Circumference       

    • Neck size > 17 inches for men

    • Neck size > 15 inches for women        

  • Nasal Disturbances

    • Deviated Septum

    •  Allergic Rhinitis        

  • Crowded oral cavity

    • Enlarged Tongue

    • Retruded Jaw                    

  • Narrow airway

    • Enlarged Tonsils

    • Enlarged Uvula

    • Enlarged Adenoids   

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HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
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The body and brain's repeated state of stress, lack of oxygen and disturbance to deep sleep throughout the night harm the brain, cardiovascular system and metabolic system increasing your risk for:
                                      

  • High Blood Pressure (Ever wonder why your blood pressure is always high?)                 

  • Diabetes             

  • Cardiovascular Disease                          

  • Stroke                    

  • Heart Attack               

  • Irregular Heartbeat

  • Heart Failure

  • Acid Reflux

  • Depression                  

  • Erectile Dysfunction

  • Higher Mortality Risk

  • Higher Risk of Motor Vehicle or Work-Related Accidents​                         

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If you have any of the signs and/or health conditions above, a discussion with your physician regarding your potential for having sleep apnea is advisable.

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