What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that leads to loud snoring and weariness/fatigue even after a healthy amount of sleep.

There are two different types of sleep apnea.

• Central sleep apnea happens when your brain doesn’t send signals to your lungs to breathe. Neuromuscular conditions that change how your brain controls your respiratory system can affect this.
• Obstructive sleep apnea happens because of blockages in your airways, usually soft tissues in the back of your throat.

Sleep apnea is very dangerous because it leads to your breathing stopping and restarting, reducing the amount of oxygen you get in your sleep, which can be deadly. You may wake up gasping and choking in the middle of the night because you haven’t been breathing if you have sleep apnea. It can also lead to headaches, night sweats, depression/anxiety, high blood pressure, and liver problems.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Sleep studies are one of the most common ways that doctors diagnose sleep apnea. Sleep studies track your body when you’re asleep, recording things like

• brain and heart activity
• activity of muscles that control your breathing
• blood oxygen levels
• breathing consistency

Sleep studies are generally conducted by sleep specialists or sleep centers, but there are options for at-home sleep studies too. At-home sleep studies monitor your breathing overnight to check for symptoms of sleep apnea. They tend to be far cheaper and less of a commitment than regular visits to sleep facilities. However, these studies still require approval from your primary care physician or another medical professional in the field.

How do you treat sleep apnea?

If your sleep apnea isn’t very severe, lifestyle changes are generally enough. This usually means smaller behavioral changes like quitting smoking and losing weight.

For more severe cases of sleep apnea, you may need a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine maintains positive airway pressure and makes sure that your airways stay open when you sleep. This usually means wearing a mask overnight.

Some alternative treatment options include other appliances that can keep your throat open and extra oxygen supplies. If your sleep apnea is caused by other conditions, treating those conditions could be all the treatment you need. For very severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery. The first option if you think you may have sleep apnea is to ask your physician about it.

Author Jai Sammpath