Sleep Disorder and Apnea

Sleep disorders range from insomnia (unable to sleep) to narcolepsy (unable to stay awake.), with apnea falling somewhere in between.  Apnea, or sleep apnea (apnea comes from the Greek meaning “without breath”) is a sleep disorder characterized by frequent stops in breathing during sleep.  Called apnea events, the breathless episodes can last for as long as minute, and can occur up to a hundred times a night.  Sleep disorder apnea effects over 18 million Americans, but is greatly under diagnosed.  Sufferers rarely notice the apnea events, and the waking symptoms are very general: morning headache, grogginess and dry mouth, to name a few.  Loud and excessive snoring is a premier indication of sleep apnea, but unless a family, friend or bed partner notices it, the sufferer doesn’t even realize the need to check with a physician. 

There are three types of sleep disorder apnea.  Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat and neck muscles relax so much they block the airway.  Central sleep apnea is neurological, involving improper signals being sent from the brain to the lungs to regulate breathing.  Mixed sleep apnea is the third type of sleep disorder apnea, and is a combination of the other two. 

The consequences of sleep disorder apnea can be life threatening.  Lack of oxygen to the brain can impair judgment.  Excessive daytime grogginess often leads to decreased function at work, and to auto accidents from falling asleep at the wheel.  Depression can be a side effect as well.  The biggest health risk is that this sleep disorder apnea can lead to an almost 50% increase in risk for hypertension.  Hypertension leads to stroke and cardiovascular disease.  According to a National Institutes of Health study published in April 2000, the risk of hypertension increased with the severity of sleep apnea without regard to race, gender or weight. 

All ages can be affected by sleep disorder apnea, but certain factors increase the risk.  Excess weight, particularly a thick neck and/or fat deposits around the upper airway may narrow the airway and increase risk.  Hypertension, stroke, heart disorders can affect the lungs and the ability to breathe.  Smoking can increase inflammation and retention of fluid in the upper airway.  Alcohol, sedatives and tranquilizers relax the throat muscles.

Fortunately, sleep disorder apnea is diagnosable and treatable.  Depending on the severity of the case, the treatments can be simple lifestyle changes like losing weight, giving up smoking, and avoiding alcohol.  More moderate cases may require an oral appliance, a device that resembles mouth guards used in sports, worn during sleep to keep the airway open.  CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure is the most commonly used treatment.  CPAP works by utilizing a medical pump to inject a stream of pressurized air through flexible tubing to a mask worn over the face.  The air acts as a splint forcing the airway to remain open during sleep.  As a last resort and in the worst cases, surgical procedures can reduce and/or remove obstructions, or reposition the upper and lower jaws.

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