Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder it causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start. People who snore loudly and feel tired after a full night’s sleep might have sleep apnea.

There are three main types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common one that occurs when the throat muscles relax.

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Complex sleep apnea syndrome occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

See a doctor If you think you might have sleep apnea, the right treatment can ease your symptoms and might help to prevent heart problems and other complications.

Signs and Symptoms

Herewith the most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea:

Snoring Loudly

Episodes where you stop breathing during sleep

Waking up with a dry mouth

Headaches in the morning

Insomnia

Gasping for air during sleep

Hypersomnia

Difficulty to pay attention when awake

Irritability

Causes

Obstructive sleep apnea – occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relaxes. These muscles support the soft palate, Uvula, tonsils, side walls of the throat and the tongue.

As the muscles relax your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in. When you don’t get enough air, it will lower the oxygen levels in your blood. The brain then senses your inability to breathe and will briefly rouse you from sleep so you can reopen your airway.

You might choke, gasp or snort, the pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or even more every hour and this can prevent you from reaching the deep, restful phases of sleep.

Central sleep apnea – is a less common form of sleep apnea that occurs when the brain fails to transmit signals to your breathing muscles meaning that you make no effort to breathe for a short period. You will wake up with shortness of breath or struggle getting to sleep or staying asleep.

Risk Factors – Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obesity, fat deposits around your upper airway can obstruct your breathing.

Neck circumference, thicker necks might have narrower airways.

A narrowed airway, having a narrow throat, tonsils or adenoids can enlarge and block the airway, especially in children.

Men are more likely to have sleep apnea but women increase their risk if they’re overweight and the risk also appears to rise after menopause.

Family history, having a family member with sleep apnea might increase your risk.

Alcohol, tranquilizers or sedatives can relax the muscles in your throat and worsen obstructive sleep apnea.

Smokers are three times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea. Smoking increases the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway.

Nasal congestion, having difficulty breathing through your nose, whether from an anatomical problem or allergies, this might cause obstructive sleep apnea.

Some of the medical condition that can increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal disorders, prior stroke and chronic lung diseases.

Risk Factors – Central Sleep Apnea

Middle-aged and older people are a higher risk

Central sleep apnea is more common in men than in women.

Having congestive heart failure increases the risk.

Narcotic pain medications, opioid medications such as methadone will increase the risk of central sleep apnea.

Stroke increases your risk of central sleep apnea or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that should be discussed with your doctor as it can have a huge impact on your health and well-being.