Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people around the world. Usually, males who are between the ages of 30 to 50 are the victims of this type of disorder. Although widely prevalent, this disorder is not often diagnosed. In addition, people who have this disorder may not know that they have this condition because this only occurs during sleep. The person may only suspect that he has sleep apnea if his bed mate notices his labored or disrupted breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea may also be suspected once the person has felt its effects.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by shallow breathing or pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses may last within a few seconds to minutes and may occur for 5 to more than 30 times within one hour. The result is a sleepless night without the victim knowing that he has had shallow breathing during his sleep.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is classified into three types: obstructive apnea, central apnea, and complex apnea. Obstructive apnea is the most common among the three types. This usually happens when the collapsible walls of soft tissue in the throat block the airways. Central apnea, on the other hand, occurs when the nerves that control breathing malfunction and are not able to send signals to the brain to inhale. This leads to oxygen deficiency in the body. Meanwhile, complex apnea is a combination of central and obstructive apnea.
Sleep Apnea Causes
The occurrence of sleep apnea can be caused by a number of factors. Some of the common sleep apnea causes include:
- abnormal relaxation of the throat muscles and tongue during sleep
- obesity
- tonsils and tongue are too large compared to the opening in the windpipe
- malfunction in the neurological controls because the brain fails to signal the body to inhale
- blocked airways
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Common symptoms of sleep apnea may vary but most often, symptoms include loud snoring, excessive sleepiness during the day, gasping or choking during sleep, sudden awakenings from sound sleep, and frequent breaks of breathing during sleep. Loud snoring is not something to worry about in itself. However, when it is caused by blockage of the airways, it may lead to danger for the person experiencing it.
Dangers Associated with Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can pose great danger if left untreated. It can lead to certain medical conditions and unpleasant events. Examples of dangers associated with sleep apnea include worsening heart failure, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and even diabetes. It can also lead to driving and work-related accidents. Moreover, it may lead to obesity in some individuals.
Sources:What Is Sleep Apnea?
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