Sleep Apnea

As they sleep, people with sleep apnea stop breathing, sometimes hundreds of times per night, and sometimes for a minute or longer. In those with sleep apnea, the upper airway is often blocked, limiting airflow and causing oxygen levels to drop in both the brain and blood. Sleep apnea affects about 18 million people of all ages in the United States.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three different types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Also known as OSA, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form, and occurs when the soft tissue at the back of the throat closes, blocking or obstructing the airway.

Central Sleep Apnea

The airway remains open in central sleep apnea, but the brain does not send signals to the muscles involved in breathing.

Mixed Sleep Apnea

Mixed sleep apnea combines aspects of the obstructive and central types of apnea. A common warning sign of sleep apnea is snoring, especially when it is interspersed with gasps or lack of breathing.

To resume proper breathing, sleep-apnea sufferers are briefly roused from sleep, disrupting and lowering the quality of their rest. As a result, untreated sleep apnea can cause a number of problems, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, memory problems, weight gain, impotency and headaches, as well as daytime fatigue, which can lead to job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

There are a variety of treatments, including oral-appliance therapy, mandibular repositioning, tongue-retaining devices, nasal sprays, traditional surgery and nasal surgery, available for sleep apnea. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and effectively treated. A doctor should be consulted for the best sleep apnea treatment option.

Additional Resources

• MedlinePlus
• National Institutes of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
• U.S. National Library of Medicine
• WebMD

Content presented on this website is for general information only. The healthcare provider | Edward Michaelson M.D. | is not responsible for any content selection, or any errors, inconsistencies, or outdated information.