Sleep apnea is a troublesome sleep disorder, mainly categorized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is often taken lightly, and people end up neglecting the sleep disorder. However, there is a wide range of consequences associated with this sleep disorder. If you are experiencing sleep apnea and live in Los Angeles, you should contact the Home Sleep Center in California. Untreated sleep apnea can make way for many chronic conditions and diseases. However, timely interventions like CPAP therapy and lifestyle modifications can avert the crisis associated with sleep apnea. Nevertheless, timely intervention requires timely diagnosis. Individuals can diagnose sleep apnea by learning about the symptoms, or they can consult a sleep specialist. This blog aims to shine a light on the different signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. Moreover, this blog will further discuss different ways to counter these symptoms.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder, characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing while sleeping. These pauses cause individuals to wake up periodically throughout the whole night. As a result, such individuals lose their ability to have quality sleep. There are different types of sleep apnea, distinguished by the cause of breathing disruptions.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Constriction or blockage of the airway at the back of the throat during sleep causes OSA. This results in snoring, because air is blocked from passing through. Due to airway obstruction, individuals wake up from sleep and take deep breaths or several gasps. These deep breaths are usually accompanied by a noise like choking or snorting. OSA is the most common sleep apnea type. Studies show that OSA affects 10-30% of adults; however, many cases go undiagnosed.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
Central sleep apnea (CSA) involves distortions in breathing due to the brain’s failure to communicate with the muscles that control breathing. As a result, breathing becomes shallower due to temporary pauses in respiration. The occurrence of CSA is low compared to OSA. Studies show that around 1% of adults have CSA in the USA.
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Unless your family notices a continuous pattern in your distorted breathing, you may not know that you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can lead to symptoms that indicate the lack of rest you are experiencing during frequent bouts of breathing obstruction. The most common symptoms are mentioned below:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking upon waking at night
- Frequent awakening at night
- Mood swings and irritability
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime fatigue, even after resting all night
- Sore throat or Dry mouth in the mornings
- Liver complications
- Type 2 diabetes
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms, you should know that these are indicators of sleep apnea. You should not delay and schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist right away. The sleep specialist will assess your medical history and evaluate your symptoms. After a thorough assessment and evaluation, the sleep specialist will let you know if polysomnography is required. A simple name for polysomnography is “Sleep test”. In this sleep test, pulmonologists monitor physiological anomalies to determine if the person has sleep apnea or not.
These sleep studies are conducted under the supervision of sleep specialists in a sleep center. People suffering from sleep apnea are hooked up to sensors, that provide specialists with information. Sleep studies mainly include information about breathing, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and brain waves, just to mention only a few. Alternatively, you may opt for a home sleep study. During this assessment, you sleep at home and receive an evaluation. However, it is less accurate than a clinical sleep assessment and can’t detect central sleep apnea.
How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
If you suspect you or someone near you has the symptoms and signs of sleep apnea, see a sleep specialist or pulmonologist immediately. Depending on their assessment and examination, your doctor may suggest you have a sleep study.
You will be connected to a portable machine and monitoring wires will be attached to your body to monitor your sleep. Sleep studies can be conducted at home or in a dedicated sleep center. There are both public as well as private sleep centers.
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How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Once you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you will most probably be advised to undergo treatment for the sleep disorder. Fortunately, sleep specialists have a plethora of tools at their disposal to help you secure and maintain normal breathing while sleeping. Some of the most common treatment approaches are discussed below.
Lifestyle Modifications
Making changes in your habits and modifying your lifestyle can significantly improve your sleep health, while simultaneously countering sleep apnea. Some of the most common lifestyle modifications that can positively impact your disorder are mentioned below:
- Losing excess weight.
- Trying new sleep positions.
- Quitting tobacco and alcohol.
- Avoiding sedatives.
- Using CPAP or BiPAP therapy.
- Surgery, as the last resort.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): It is one of the most effective treatments, commonly used for OSA. This therapy instructs individuals to sleep with a mask over their face. The mask delivers a steady flow of air pressure. This continuous airflow prevents airway obstruction.
- Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP): It is a lower-pressure alternative to CPAP often used for patients who did not respond to CPAP. With BiPAP therapy, individuals receive air pressure that supports exhalation.
- Oral Appliances: Some people respond well to oral devices known as Thornton Adjustable Positioners (TAP®). It serves as an alternative to CPAP. This device pushes the lower jaw forward to prevent the airway from collapsing.
- Clinical Surgery: individuals with severe sleep apnea are often advised by the doctor to go through clinical surgery. During this surgical procedure, the airway is widened, through the removal of excess tissue in the airway. As a result, the quality of breathing is increased, which in result improves the overall quality of sleep.
- Adaptive Servo-Ventilation Therapy (ASV): ASV is effective for patients who suffer from CSA. During this treatment, a machine regulates your breathing to maintain safe oxygen levels in the blood.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
There are many contributing factors for sleep apnea and some of them are briefly discussed below:
- Being Obese: Excessive fat surrounding the throat, makes the airway narrower. This increases the chances of developing sleep apnea.
- Age: Older people have more relaxed throat muscles during sleep. Relaxed throat muscles increase the likelihood of developing sleep apnea.
- Alcohol: Excessive alcoholic consumption also makes the throat muscles more relaxed during sleep, resulting in sleep apnea and snoring.
Wrapping Up…
In a nutshell, sleep apnea is a prevalent sleep disorder. It is often neglected because people are not aware of its far-reaching consequences. Recognizing and addressing symptoms of sleep apnea is pivotal for the overall health of people struggling with the disorder. Untreated sleep apnea can negatively impact life expectancy due to its association with several chronic diseases. Timely diagnosis and intervention, including lifestyle modifications, CPAP therapy, and surgical treatment (if necessary), can significantly enhance sleep quality. Seeking professional support by prioritizing sleep health is a crucial step towards a better future.
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