Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments
Sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. The word “apnea” is a Greek word which literally means, “without breath.”
Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They may occur 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound. It results in decreased oxygen in the blood.
Sleep Apnea: Causes
In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.
More than 50% of people with this disease are either overweight or obese, which is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 or 30.0 or above, respectively. In adults, excess weight is the strongest risk factor associated with sleep apnea.
Each unit increase in BMI is associated with a 14% increased risk of developing sleep apnea, and a 10% weight gain further increases the odds of developing of developing this disease by six times.
In addition, men with a neck circumference above 17 inches (43 centimeters) and women with a neck circumference above 15 inches (38 centimeters) are also at significant risk.
Sleep Apnea: Pickwickian Syndrome
Extreme obesity, defined as a BMI above 40, is associated with Pickwickian syndrome, aka obesity-hypoventilation syndrome, that can occur alone or in combination with sleep apnea. In this syndrome, which affects up to 25% of the extremely obese, excess body fat not only interferes with chest movement but also compresses the lungs to cause shallow, inefficient breathing throughout the day and night.
In addition to obesity, other anatomical features associated with this disease, include a narrow throat, thick neck, and round head. Contributing factors may include hypothyroidism, excessive and abnormal growth due to excessive production of growth hormone, and allergies and other medical conditions such as a deviated septum that cause congestion in the upper airways
Sleep Apnea: Results
Left untreated this disease can lead to serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease, accidents, stroke, diabetes, and premature death. Therefore, anyone with signs and symptoms, especially loud snoring and repeated nighttime awakenings followed by excessive daytime sleepiness, should see a doctor.
Sleep Apnea: Demographics
Among people over age 65, it’s estimated that at least 10% have the condition. Aging affects the brain’s ability to keep upper airway throat muscles stiff during sleep, increasing the likelihood that the airway will narrow or collapse.
This condition is up to four times as common in men as in women, but women are more likely to develop sleep apnea during pregnancy and after menopause. In older adults, the gender gap narrows after women reach menopause.
Postmenopausal women who receive hormone replacement therapy are significantly less likely than those who don’t to develop obstructive sleep apnea, suggesting that progesterone and/or estrogen may be protective. But hormone replacement therapy is not considered to be an appropriate therapy for the condition, because of debilitating side effects.
Other factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Family history. About 25%-40% have family members with the condition, which may reflect an inherited tendency toward anatomical abnormalities.
- Ethnicity. Sleep apnea also is more common in African-Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders than in whites.
Sleep Apnea: Treatments
Medical treatment includes the use of a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP) or similar oral appliances. Surgery may improve signs and symptoms of sleep apnea and its complications.
Conclusion
Watch this very informative video by Nucleus Medical Media describing sleep apnea.