What is Sleep Apnea: Types, Symptoms & Risks

Sleep apnea is a common yet often undiagnosed sleep disorder affecting millions of people. In individuals with sleep apnea, breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night. These interruptions, often lasting several seconds, disrupt the sleep cycle and prevent restful, restorative sleep.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three main types of sleep apnea.

• Obstructive sleep apnea. It is probably the most common type of sleep apnea. What happens in obstructive apnea is that the throat muscles relax. As a result the airways block and make you repeatedly stop and start breathing.
• Central sleep apnea. Occurs when your brain fails to deliver correct signals to the muscles that control your breathing. This means that you breathe more slowly than normal and take long breaks between breathes
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome. Also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, which occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Some of the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea are considered very common. And this is why patients often neglect and dont pay much attention.

• Snoring loudly
• Episodes in which you stop breathing while sleeping — which another person might report
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Difficulty concentrating while awake
• Feeling easily annoyed or frustrated
• Decreased interest in sex
• Morning headache

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea

This happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. The soft palate, the triangular portion of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils, the side walls of the throat, and the tongue, are all supported by these muscles.

As you breathe in, your airway narrows or closes as your muscles relax. You aren’t getting enough air, which causes your blood oxygen level to drop. When your brain detects that you are unable to breathe, it briefly wakes you up so that you can reopen your airway. You normally don’t remember this waking because it is so fleeting.

It’s possible that you’ll snort, choke, or gasp. This sequence can repeat itself five to thirty times each hour or more during the night, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep.

Central sleep apnea

This less common form of sleep apnea occurs when your brain fails to transmit signals to your breathing muscles. This means that you make no effort to breathe for a short period. You might awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep.

Risk factors

Anyone, including children can be affected by sleep apnea. However, there are some characteristics that enhance your risk.

Obstructive sleep apnea

Factors that increase the risk of this form of sleep apnea include:

• Excess weight. Obesity increases the risk of sleep apnea significantly. Your breathing may be obstructed by fat deposits around your upper airway.
• Neck circumference. People with thicker necks might have narrower airways.
• A narrowed airway. You may have been born with a narrow throat. Tonsils and adenoids, especially in children, can grow and restrict the airway.
• Being male. Men are two to three times more likely than women to suffer from sleep apnea. Women, on the other hand, are at higher risk if they are overweight, and their risk appears to grow after menopause.
• Being older. Sleep apnea affects older people at a much higher rate.
• Family history. Having sleep apnea in your family may raise your risk.
• Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. These medications relax your neck muscles, which might exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea.
• Smoking. Smokers are three times more likely than nonsmokers to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway can be exacerbated by smoking.
• Nasal congestion. You’re more prone to develop obstructive sleep apnea if you have trouble breathing via your nose, whether due to anatomical issues or allergies.
• Medical conditions. Conditions such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease can all raise the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, hormonal abnormalities, a history of stroke, and chronic lung conditions like asthma can all raise your risk.

Central sleep apnea

Risk factors for this form of sleep apnea include:

• Being older. Middle-aged and older people have a higher risk of central sleep apnea.
• Being male. Central sleep apnea is more common in men than it is in women.
• Heart disorders. Having congestive heart failure increases the risk.
• Using narcotic pain medications. Opioid medications, especially long-acting ones such as methadone, increase the risk of central sleep apnea.
• Stroke. Having had a stroke increases your risk of central sleep apnea or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

Complications

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. Complications can include:

• Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea make normal, restorative sleep impossible, making severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability likely. You might have difficulty concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching TV or even when driving. People with sleep apnea have an increased risk of motor vehicle and workplace accidents. You might also feel quick-tempered, moody or depressed. Children and adolescents with sleep apnea might perform poorly in school or have behavior problems.
• High blood pressure or heart problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea, increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. Having obstructive sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). Obstructive sleep apnea might also increase your risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you have heart disease, multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.
• Type 2 diabetes. Having sleep apnea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
• Metabolic syndrome. This disorder, which includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and an increased waist circumference, is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.
• Complications with medications and surgery. Obstructive sleep apnea is also a concern with certain medications and general anesthesia. People with sleep apnea might be more likely to have complications after major surgery because they’re prone to breathing problems, especially when sedated and lying on their backs. Before you have surgery, let your doctor know about your sleep apnea and how it’s being treated.
• Liver problems. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have abnormal results on liver function tests, and their livers are more likely to show signs of scarring (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).
• Sleep-deprived partners. Loud snoring can keep anyone who sleeps near you from getting good rest. It’s not uncommon for a partner to have to go to another room, or even to another floor of the house, to be able to sleep.

 

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When should you consult a physician?

Although snoring loudly can indicate a major problem, not everyone with sleep apnea snores. If you have indications or symptoms of sleep apnea, arrange an appointment with your doctor. If you’re tired, sleepy, or irritable, talk to your doctor about your sleep problems.