Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be found in men and woman and even children and babies. Arousals during the night lead to unrefreshing sleep and sleepiness during the day. These arousals are caused by partial or complete obstruction of airflow during sleep. An overnight sleep apnea screening test or a polysomnogram will help in the diagnosis of the severity. In mild cases simple changes in sleep posture may be enough but with moderate to  severe sleep apnea the use of a nasal CPAP machine will be recommended. A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine assists in holding the airway open using pressurized air. 

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that causes a reduction in airflow through the throat during sleep. It is caused by intermittent relaxation of the throat muscles, which block the airway either partially or completely  while a person is sleeping. This results in shallow breathing or even a brief stop in breathing while asleep. One of the  common characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea causes increased breathing effort and forces a person to awaken from sleep. But you don’t know about this until your partner tells you about it. Since the upper airway is obstructed, the diaphragm and chest muscles must make an extra effort to open the blocked path and force air into the lungs. With sleep apnea the amount of oxygen reaching the vital organs of the body and the brain reduces. This causes the body to briefly wake up, re-open the airflow, and the breathing resumes with a loud snort or jerk.

What is Central Sleep Apnea?

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) differs from Obstructive Sleep Apnea in that the brain does not send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Central Sleep Apnea is thus caused by a Neurological reason and not by an obstruction like OSA. It usually does not cause snoring like OSA either. CSA is characterized by Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) where the breathing pattern is fast and shallow, followed by slow, heavier breathing with moments where there is no breathing at all.

What are the Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea?

• loud snoring – it is important to note not everyone who snores suffers from obstructive sleep apnea.
• episodes where you stop breathing during sleep which will be reported by another person.
• excessive drowsiness during the day
• waking up gasping or choking
• chronic fatigue
• dry mouth or a sore throat on waking up
• morning headaches
• lack of concentration
• mood swings
• depression
• forgetfulness

What can Happen if Sleep Apnea Goes Untreated?

Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of:

• stroke
• hypertension
• coronary artery disease
• cardiac arrhythmias
• heart disease
• sudden death
• mood disturbances
• daytime sleepiness
• loud snoring
• diabetes Type II
• obesity
• gastroesophageal reflux disease
• sexual dysfunction
• nocturia

What is a Sleep Study?

There are 2 types of sleep studies.

1. Obstructive sleep screening test. This test can be done in the comfort of your own bed. This is a reliable screening test which monitors your breathing patterns, snoring levels, oxygen index in your blood, body position and pulse rate.
2. Polysomnography. This is a test designed for obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis as well as other similar sleep disorders. The test records parameters like brain waves, heart rate and breathing, eye and leg movements, and heart rate during your sleep. This test is usually performed in hospital.

How Can You Cure Sleep Apnea?

While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies show that certain lifestyle changes can make your sleep apnea less intense like weight loss. The golden standard for the long-term treatment of OSA is the use of a CPAP machine. Patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea can benefit from the use of dental devices, positional therapy and even surgery.