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Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that causes your breathing to stop repeatedly while you sleep. These breathing pauses or "apneas" usually last 10 to 30 seconds and can happen many times throughout the night.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems, accidents, and premature death
Types of sleep apnea
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, which happens when the upper airway gets blocked during sleep. Most often, the blockage happens when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. Relaxed throat muscles, a narrow airway, a large tongue or extra fatty tissue in the throat can also block the airway.
Central apnea and mixed apnea are other types of sleep apnea, but are more rare. In central sleep apnea the part of the brain that controls breathing doesn't work properly.
The devastating effects of the lack of sleep
Untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health problems:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Decreased intellectual functioning
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart problems - can lead to heart attacks and strokes
The health problems caused by sleep apnea can lead to loss of employment, marriage break-up. Untreated sleep apnea is also associated with some permanent memory loss and dementia, especially in the elderly. Because of the daytime sleepiness it causes, sleep apnea is also responsible for car accidents and industrial accidents.
Signs & symptoms
Family members or bed partners often pick up on the signs of sleep apnea first. Many people with sleep apnea don't know they're snoring and gasping for breath at night. If you have any of the following signs, test yourself, then see a doctor:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Loud snoring followed by silent pauses
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Morning headache
- Irritability or mood changes
- Poor concentration or memory loss
- Lowered sex drive
- Falling asleep while driving
Do you have sleep apnea?
Snoring followed by silent pauses and daytime sleepiness are strong signs that you might have sleep apnea. You may feel very tired and sleepy during the day because your sleep is disrupted throughout the night,. You may even fall asleep at the wrong times, for example while at work or while driving. Sleep apnea is common and affects men, women and children of all ages, but many people don't realize they have it.
If you have sleep apnea signs and symptoms, daytime sleepiness, or concerns about sleep apnea, test yourself with a SleepStrip, then consult a doctor.
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