Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person’s breathing to stop during sleep. Patients with sleep apnea can stop breathing hundreds of times a night, depriving the brain and body of oxygen.

Types

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax and block your airway, often causing snoring. Central sleep apnea is a condition that is a lot less common than obstructive sleep apnea. It occurs because your brain doesn’t send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. The most common cause of both types of sleep apnea is being overweight or obese. Other causes of obstructive sleep apnea include hypothyroidism, excessive production of growth hormone, a deviated septum and allergies. Other causes of central sleep apnea include medications such as narcotic painkillers.

Symptoms

Sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Loud snoring every night or almost every night
• Fatigue during the day
• Snorting or choking while sleeping
• Shortness of breath

Sleep apnea predisposes people to a variety of medical conditions. If you have sleep apnea, you’re much more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, a heart attack, stroke or an irregular heartbeat. It can also increase your risk of being involved in a car accident.

Treatments

• Weight loss. Studies show that losing weight is an effective long-term treatment for patients with sleep apnea who are overweight or obese.
• A CPAP machine, which blows pressure into your throat to prevent it from collapsing.
• A dental device (also known as a mouthguard), which pulls the jaw forward and stops snoring.
• Surgery to treat people who snore or have a blocked nose or nasal passage issues. If you undergo sleep apnea treatment, you may work with your physician, a sleep specialist, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) and/or a CPAP specialist.

There are also sleep apnea devices such as a sleep apnea pillow or a shirt with a cushion in it that prevents you from rolling on your back at night. Therefore, you sleep more on your side, and you won’t be as inclined to obstruct your throat.

Talk to your physician if you’d like more information on sleep apnea.

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Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider

• Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax and block your airway, often causing snoring.
• Central sleep apnea is a condition that is a lot less common than obstructive sleep apnea.
• The most common cause of both types of sleep apnea is being overweight or obese.
• If you have sleep apnea, you’re much more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, a heart attack, stroke or an irregular heartbeat.
• Sleep apnea treatment options include weight loss, a CPAP machine, a dental device and surgery.

Adherence

Adhering to your medications, prescribed exercises or lifestyle changes (such as dietary changes, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption, etc.) is essential to improving health outcomes successfully. Compliance with any prescribed treatment is the number one thing you can do to ensure positive changes and optimal treatment outcomes.