What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing while you sleep. Sleep apnea is caused by a periodic paralysis of the respiratory muscles. This temporary paralysis cuts off airflow through the nose and mouth. Apnea is Greek work that means "without breath" and that is essentially what is happening when you have sleep apnea.

Signs of sleep apnea in adults Have you ever been told that you snore and keep others awake? Have you ever awakened yourself from loud and excessive snoring? Do you feel like you are not getting enough sleep at night or wake up still tired? If so, then it is possible you are suffering from sleep apnea. Anyone of any age can get sleep apnea, even children. However, there are certain conditions that make you more likely to suffer from it. For example, if you are male, if you live in high altitudes, if you have a heart disorder such as atrial fibrillation or if you have had a stroke or brain tumor, it will increase your risk. If you feel you may have sleep apnea, see your doctor right away to find out what kind of treatment works for you. Remember your sleep is very important and if you can’t breathe, it will affect your sleep.

Some risk factors that increase your chances of getting sleep apnea are excess weight, a thick neck circumference, high blood pressure or hypertension, being male, being a person over age 65, having a narrowed throat or enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a family history of sleep apnea, being a smoker, or using alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers before bed.

Types of sleep apnea There are two main types of sleep apnea--obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Both will have the same symptoms but they are caused by different things. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type and occurs when throat muscle relax and obstruct breathing. Central sleep apnea happens when the brain doesn’t send the right breathing signals out during sleeping. Sleep apnea is more common in older adults than young people and more common in men than in women.

Sleep apnea signs and symptoms What are some signs and symptoms of sleep apnea? Difficulty staying asleep or marked daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, cessation of breathing during sleep, shortness of breath, awakening due to cessation of breathing, morning headaches, waking with dry mouth and sore throat are all some common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea treatment options There are different types of sleep apnea treatment options to help you get the proper sleep at night and continue breathing properly. Some people undergo treatment to remove tissue from certain areas like the nose, mouth or throat to prevent obstruction and other people may need to use a breathing device at night to keep breathing. There are also a number of dental devices for sleep apnea that are designed to help keep airways open and clear while you sleep.

Some people with sleep apnea are not aware that their sleep has been interrupted. They may wonder why they have fatigue and feel sleepy throughout the day. Often the awakening during the night is so brief, you may not remember it by the next morning.

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