Sleep Apnea

What Is It?

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing for short periods during sleep. These periods are called apneas. They usually last between 10 and 30 seconds. In severe cases, apneas can happen many hundreds of times each night, disrupting the person's ability to get a good night's sleep. This makes the person less alert during the day, which can lead to accidents. People with untreated sleep apnea are up to seven times more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents. People with untreated sleep apnea also are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Sleep apnea usually happens when the breathing airway in your nose or throat becomes blocked partially or completely. It can be blocked by large tonsils, a large tongue or by too much tissue in the airway, which is more common in people who are overweight. When airway muscles relax during sleep, this extra tissue can block the breathing passages. This is called obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea also can happen when the brain stem, the area of the brain that controls breathing, is damaged, for instance by an infection or stroke. This is called central sleep apnea. Studies show that sleep apnea affects approximately 9% of middle-aged men and 4% of middle-aged women.

Symptoms

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include excessive sleepiness during waking hours. Because loud snoring is a symptom, the person's bed partner may be the first to notice the problem. Morning headache and dry mouth can occur, and obesity is common, though not all people with sleep apnea are overweight.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask whether you snore and whether you feel excessively sleepy during the day. Your doctor will examine you and look for any narrowing inside your mouth and throat. Your doctor will check the size of your neck because the larger your neck, the more likely you are to develop obstructive sleep apnea. Your doctor will check your blood pressure because people with sleep apnea are more likely to develop high blood pressure.

Many people with obstructive sleep apnea don't have any problems with the nose, throat and mouth. In these cases, a diagnosis can only be confirmed by a sleep study, during which a person's breathing patterns and sleep stages are monitored throughout an entire night. A daytime study of brief naps can measure the degree of daytime sleepiness and indicate the severity of the disorder.

Expected Duration

How long sleep apnea lasts depends on its cause and on the effectiveness of treatment. Generally, sleep apnea is a chronic disorder, meaning you'll be dealing with it for a lifetime. For some people with obstructive sleep apnea, losing weight may make the problem less severe. Sometimes, surgery can help. For people with central sleep apnea, how long the problem lasts depends on treatment for the neurological or cardiovascular disorders.

Prevention

You can help to prevent obstructive sleep apnea by maintaining a healthy weight. You can help to reduce sleep apnea symptoms by avoiding alcohol and sedatives.

Treatment

To treat obstructive sleep apnea, many people sleep with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. A CPAP device is a mask that fits over your mouth and nose. It forces your airways open with a stream of air. This allows you to breathe more easily. For some others, weight loss or surgical procedures may be helpful. For central sleep apnea, treating any neurological or cardiovascular disorders may get rid of the problem. However, CPAP also can be useful in these cases.

When To Call A Professional

Call your doctor if you are excessively sleepy during waking hours, if you snore a lot, or if your bed partner notices that your breathing stops sometimes when you sleep.

Prognosis

Most people with obstructive sleep apnea can sleep and feel better if they follow the treatment plan recommended by their doctor.

Additional Info

American Sleep Apnea Association

1424 K St. NW

Suite 302

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: (202) 293-3650

Fax: (202)293-3656

National Sleep Foundation

1522 K St. NW

Suite 500

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: (202) 347-3471

Fax: (202) 247-2472

E-mail: nsf@sleepfoundation.org