Health Tips

SLEEP APNEA = Want of breath

Did you know that sleep apnea can have both immediate and long-term health consequences? In fact, what you don’t know can hurt you. Let’s do a quick overview of sleep apnea and the risks associated with it. The term apnea means, “want of breath.” Sleep apnea is a condition in which there are repeated episodes of brief pauses in breathing during sleep – generally for 10 seconds or more – temporarily reducing the amount of oxygen that is inhaled. There are two common types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - is caused by relaxation of soft tissue at the back of the throat that blocks the passage of air. This is the most common type.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) - is a lack of effort to breathe that is caused by irregularities in the brain’s normal signals to breathe.

Most people with sleep apnea will have a combination of both types.

Common symptoms that may indicate sleep apnea:

Excessive daytime sleepiness (hallmark symptom)
Restless sleep
Loud snoring (with periods of silence followed by gasps)
Morning headaches
Trouble concentrating
Irritability
Forgetfulness
Mood or behavior changes
Anxiety
Depression
Is more likely to occur in men than women
Is more likely to occur in people who are overweight or obese
People who have small airways in their noses, throats, or mouths also are more likely to have sleep apnea. Smaller airways may be due to the shape of these structures or allergies or other medical conditions that cause congestion in these areas.
Small children may have enlarged tonsil tissues in their throats. This can increase their risk of sleep apnea. Overweight children also may be at increased risk for the condition.

Risks associated with sleep apnea:

Untreated, sleep apnea can be life threatening. Excessive daytime sleepiness can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving.
Sleep apnea also appears to put individuals at risk for stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs, also known as “mini-strokes”).
Sleep apnea is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and high blood pressure.

Although there is no cure for sleep apnea, recent studies show that successful treatment can reduce the risk of heart and blood pressure problems.

If you think sleep apnea might be an issue please talk with your doctor. A simple sleep test can help to determine if sleep apnea might be a problem. If you do have sleep apnea, the treatments available can be relatively simple and very effective in helping you get a better night’s sleep and protecting your health.