Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. It is far more common than generally understood. Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both genders. It is more common in men, although it may be under diagnosed in women and young African-Americans. It is estimated that as many as 18 million Americans have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. There are two types of sleep apnea:

·         Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the muscles to start breathing. Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea.

·         Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when air can’t flow into or out of the nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue.

Sleep apnea is characterized by a number of involuntary breathing pauses or "apneic events" during a single night's sleep. There may be as many as 20 to 30 or more events per hour. These events are usually accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes. But, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Sleep apnea may also be characterized by choking sensations. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness.

During the apneic event, you can’t breathe in oxygen or exhale carbon dioxide. This results in low levels of oxygen and increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. This alerts the brain to resume breathing and cause an arousal. With each arousal, a signal is sent from the brain to the upper airway muscles to open the airway. Breathing is resumed, often with a loud snort or gasp. Frequent arousals, although necessary for breathing to restart, prevent restorative, deep sleep.

Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important, as it may be associated with:

·         Irregular heartbeat

·         High blood pressure

·         Heart attack

·         Stroke

·         Daytime sleepiness

·         Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents

What are the causes of sleep apnea?

Certain mechanical and structural problems in the airway cause the interruptions in breathing during sleep. Apnea occurs:

·         When the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially block the opening of the airway.

·         When the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula relax and sag, the airway becomes blocked, making breathing labored and noisy and even stopping it altogether.

·         In obese people when an excess amount of tissue in the airway causes it to be narrowed.

·         With a narrowed airway, the person continues his or her efforts to breathe, but air can’t easily flow into or out of the nose or mouth.

Who is at risk for sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic basis. People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those who:

·         Snore loudly

·         Are overweight

·         Have high blood pressure

·         Have some physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway

Use of alcohol and sleeping pills increases the frequency and duration of breathing pauses in people with sleep apnea.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

In either form of sleep apnea, your breathing pauses a number of times during sleep. These are called apneic events. There may be as many as 20 to 30 or more events per hour. Between events, you may snore. But, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Sleep apnea may also cause a choking sensation. When breathing starts, you may make a loud snort or gasp. These frequent breaks in deep, restorative sleep often lead to headaches andexcessive daytime sleepiness.

Other symptoms include dry mouth or sore throat and problems paying attention.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Diagnosis of sleep apnea is not simple because there can be many different causes. Primary care doctors, pulmonologists, neurologists, or other doctors with specialty training in sleep disorders may be involved in making a diagnosis and starting treatment. Several tests are available for evaluating sleep apnea, including:

·         Polysomnography. This test records a variety of body functions during sleep, such as the electrical activity of the brain, eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, respiratory effort, air flow, and blood oxygen levels.

·         Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). This test measures the speed of falling asleep. People without sleep problems usually take an average of 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. People who fall asleep in less than 5 minutes are likely to require some type of treatment for sleep disorders.

Diagnostic tests usually are done in a sleep center, but new technology may allow some sleep studies to be done in your home.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Specific treatment will be determined by your doctor based on:

·         Your age, overall health, and medical history

·         Severity of the disease

·         Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies

·         Expectations for the course of the disease

·         Your opinion or preference

Medications are generally not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. Therapy may include the following:

·         Giving oxygen may safely help some people, but does not end sleep apnea or prevent daytime sleepiness. Its role in the treatment of sleep apnea is controversial.

·         Behavioral changes are an important part of a treatment program, and in mild cases of sleep apnea, behavioral therapy may be all that is needed. You may be advised to:

·         Avoid the use of alcohol.

·         Avoid the use of tobacco.

·         Avoid the use of sleeping pills.

·         Lose weight if overweight (even a 10% weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most people).

·         Use pillows and other devices to help sleep in a side position.

·         Physical or mechanical therapy options are also available. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a procedure in which you wear a mask over the nose during sleep, and pressure from an air blower forces air through the nasal passages. Dental appliances that reposition the lower jaw and the tongue have been helpful to some people with mild sleep apnea, or who snore but do not have apnea.

·         Some people with sleep apnea may need surgery. Examples of these procedures include:

·         Surgical procedures to remove adenoids and tonsils, nasal polyps, or other growths or tissue in the airway, or to correct structural deformities may be done.

·         Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (tonsils, uvula, and part of the soft palate).

·         Surgical reconstruction for deformities of the lower jaw may benefit some people.

·         Surgical procedures to treat obesity are sometimes recommended for a person with sleep apnea who is obese.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/mens_health/sleep_apnea_85,P01301/