Sleep Apnea Is A Serious Disorder

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening disorder.  If gone unchecked, can lead to many other co-morbid health issues such as:

High Blood Pressure

Congestive Heart Failure

Pulmonary Hypertension

By which these diagnosis’ can lead to heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. 

There are a couple different types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Central sleep apnea (CSA ).

 

OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea. During sleep, the muscles in the back of the throat relax and can cause a narrowing vibration of the upper airway causing the snoring sound to occur. As the muscles in that area become even more relaxed, breathing then becomes more shallow causing  hypopneas and eventually breathing can become completely blocked resulting in obstructive apneas.

Hyponeas and apneas can last anywhere from 10 to 90 seconds and can cause a significant lack of oxygen to the lungs and brain.  As a person struggles for air he/she awakens and begins to breathe normally. However they will return to sleep fairly quickly and the whole process begins again. This process can begin and end hundreds of times within a night without a person even being aware of it, leaving the person to awaken in the morning feeling exhausted, groggy, and usually with a significant occipital area headache from these short spurts from lack of oxygen over a 7 to 8 hour sleep period.

 

CSA occurs when the brain does not signal the body to breathe. Again there is struggle for air during sleep and the cycle of breathe /no breathe will occur hundreds of times, causing brief awakenings. Primary CSA is found in patients with diagnosis’ of Congestive heart failure, brain injury disorders, and also with chronic/abusive narcotics use.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

 

Very loud snoring interrupted by silence and then gasping (reported by bed partner).

Falling asleep during the day-

At work

Watching TV

While driving

 

Other signs and symptoms

Morning Headache

Memory difficulties

Short temper

Irritability

Decreased interest in sex

Difficulty concentrating

Anxiety

Depression

Loss of energy

 

Sleep Apnea is diagnosed by a comprehensive sleep study evaluation with a sleep specialist, usually overseen by a neurologist.

A Polysomnogram is a painless sleep study test that is performed at a sleep evaluation clinic and is covered by most health insurance carriers, as correcting this problem can save insurance companies hundreds of thousands of health dollars in payout for other chronic illnesses that can spring forth as a result of this health issue.

 

Once a person has a definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea it can be treated medically in the following ways.

 

 

General Studies

Weight loss program with MD supervision

Decrease or avoid alcohol altogether

Avoid sleeping on back

 

 

Treatment of Mild Apnea

Oral dental appliance (keeps jaw thrust forward)

Medication (talk to your PCP and/or Neurologist)

Treatment of Moderate Apnea

Surgical removal of some of the tissue to the back of the throat and the removal of the uvula that is done by an ENT (Ear, nose and throat) specialist. Not guaranteed to be effective and is pricey.

 

Treatment of Moderate to Severe Sleep Apnea

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) has proven to be very effective and has minimal risk attached.

It is a mask that fits over the nose (some have mouth attachments) that the patient wears while sleeping, through which a small amount of air pressure is applied in order to prevent the airway muscles from collapsing during sleep and allows normal breathing to occur, thus preventing sleep apnea. The C-PAP device is, in most cases, covered by insurance, as well as the sleep study.

 

If you think that you or your bed partner may be displaying signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, discuss immediately with your primary care physician.