Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects many people around the world. It is a condition where a person momentarily stops breathing while sleeping, resulting in poor sleep quality and poor overall health.

Sleep apnea is commonly treated through various methods, ranging from lifestyle changes to surgery.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects the breathing of a person while sleeping. It causes breathing to become shallow or stop altogether. When this pause happens, the body reacts and the person wakes up momentarily.

Because these pauses happen many times during the night, the person’s sleep quality is poor and they feel tired when they wake up.

Sleep apnea can be caused by several factors. One factor is obesity, where the extra weight puts pressure on the airways, causing them to become narrow. This can lead to snoring and difficulty breathing.

Another factor is the age of the person, where the airways naturally become narrower as one ages. This makes it harder to breathe normally while sleeping.

Sleep apnea can also be genetic, where the shape and size of a person’s airway are inherited from their parents. Medical conditions such as enlarged tonsils, allergies, and congested nasal passages can also contribute to sleep apnea.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The symptoms of sleep apnea can be mild to severe. Some people may have sleep apnea and not be aware of it. The most common symptom of sleep apnea is loud snoring, which is often interrupted by pauses in breathing.

Snoring can also be accompanied by choking or gasping noises when the person wakes up momentarily to catch their breath.

Other symptoms of sleep apnea include daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating. Mood changes, irritability and depression, and loss of libido can also be experienced by people with sleep apnea.

In severe cases, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

Diagnosing sleep apnea usually involves a sleep study, which is conducted in a sleep center or at home. The sleep study records the number of times that breathing becomes shallow or pauses altogether.

It also records the oxygen level in the blood and the heart rate.

During a sleep study, the person is hooked up to several sensors such as those that monitor brain activity, eye movements, heart rate and rhythm, and oxygen levels in the blood. The test is painless and usually takes a full night to complete.

Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

There are several treatment options for sleep apnea. Mild cases of sleep apnea can be treated through lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and sleeping on your side.

These changes can help keep the airways open while sleeping.

For moderate to severe cases of sleep apnea, treatment options include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances, and surgery.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

A CPAP machine is a device that helps keep the airways open while sleeping. The machine uses a mask that fits over the mouth and nose, supplying a continuous flow of air.

The pressure of the air keeps the airways open, reducing or eliminating snoring and sleep apnea.

Oral Appliances

Oral appliances are devices that fit into the mouth, similar to a sports mouthguard or orthodontic appliance. Oral appliances help to reposition the jaw and tongue, keeping the airways open while sleeping.

They can be custom-made by a dentist or purchased over-the-counter.

Surgery

Surgery is a last resort for treating sleep apnea. The goal of surgery is to remove or reduce the size of the tissues that are causing the obstruction in the airways. Surgery may involve removing the tonsils, adenoids, or excess tissue from the throat.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that can negatively affect a person’s health and quality of life. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, it is important to seek medical attention.

There are several treatment options available, ranging from lifestyle changes to surgery, that can help alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea and improve overall health and wellbeing.