Sleep Apnea
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea refers to pauses of breathing during the night. Apnea means "without breath".
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by an obstruction of the upper airway. This cessation of breathing happens repeatedly over the course of the night and can last from several seconds to a minute or longer. During the time that the upper airway is blocked, the body is deprived of the oxygen it needs. Individuals with OSA usually continue making an effort to breathe despite upper airway resistance or blockage, and often times this effort is an increase from normal work of breathing. This continued effort commonly results in loud snoring, frequent awakenings, and restless sleep. Individuals with OSA report feeling exhausted during the day and either having poor quality sleep or wake in the morning feeling unrested. Napping or unintentionally falling asleep during the day is commonly reported by those with OSA.
Sleep apnea refers to pauses of breathing during the night. Apnea means "without breath".
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by an obstruction of the upper airway. This cessation of breathing happens repeatedly over the course of the night and can last from several seconds to a minute or longer. During the time that the upper airway is blocked, the body is deprived of the oxygen it needs. Individuals with OSA usually continue making an effort to breathe despite upper airway resistance or blockage, and often times this effort is an increase from normal work of breathing. This continued effort commonly results in loud snoring, frequent awakenings, and restless sleep. Individuals with OSA report feeling exhausted during the day and either having poor quality sleep or wake in the morning feeling unrested. Napping or unintentionally falling asleep during the day is commonly reported by those with OSA.
Why does this obstruction happen?
OSA can be caused by many things, the most common cause is that during sleep, the body relaxes and muscle tone decreases. The airways of the throat, which are composed of soft tissue, collapse. When this happens air cannot pass into or out of the lungs. Certain individuals are more prone to developing OSA. Individuals with larger neck circumferences who have more soft tissue or muscle to support and older individuals who have lost muscle tone both run a higher risk of developing OSA.
Signs and Symptoms
Most individuals with OSA go undiagnosed for years. Those who do finally seek treatment usually come to our office at the insistence of a bed partner.
Individuals with OSA commonly experience unexplained daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, loud snoring, and waking choking/gasping. Bed partners often report that they have noticed that their partners stop breathing frequently during the night.
These individuals with OSA also can experience morning headaches, sore throat, and dry mouth. Insomnia, night sweating, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and mood changes including irritability, anxiety, and/or depression are other signs. OSA can also be related to increased heart rate, high blood pressure, decreased sex drive, unexplained weight gain, frequent heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Risk Factors
Age and being obese/overweight are general risk factors. Men are also at an increased risk due to anatomical differences as males often carry increased mass in the torso and neck region. There is also a genetic component. Those with a family history of OSA are more likely to develop it themselves.
Lifestyle choices also play a large part. Smoking can inflame the upper airway and cause fluid retention, both of which can narrow the upper airway. Consumption of alcohol, muscle relaxant medications, sedatives, any other drugs that increase sleepiness can also exacerbate OSA.
OSA can be caused by many things, the most common cause is that during sleep, the body relaxes and muscle tone decreases. The airways of the throat, which are composed of soft tissue, collapse. When this happens air cannot pass into or out of the lungs. Certain individuals are more prone to developing OSA. Individuals with larger neck circumferences who have more soft tissue or muscle to support and older individuals who have lost muscle tone both run a higher risk of developing OSA.
Signs and Symptoms
Most individuals with OSA go undiagnosed for years. Those who do finally seek treatment usually come to our office at the insistence of a bed partner.
Individuals with OSA commonly experience unexplained daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, loud snoring, and waking choking/gasping. Bed partners often report that they have noticed that their partners stop breathing frequently during the night.
These individuals with OSA also can experience morning headaches, sore throat, and dry mouth. Insomnia, night sweating, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and mood changes including irritability, anxiety, and/or depression are other signs. OSA can also be related to increased heart rate, high blood pressure, decreased sex drive, unexplained weight gain, frequent heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Risk Factors
Age and being obese/overweight are general risk factors. Men are also at an increased risk due to anatomical differences as males often carry increased mass in the torso and neck region. There is also a genetic component. Those with a family history of OSA are more likely to develop it themselves.
Lifestyle choices also play a large part. Smoking can inflame the upper airway and cause fluid retention, both of which can narrow the upper airway. Consumption of alcohol, muscle relaxant medications, sedatives, any other drugs that increase sleepiness can also exacerbate OSA.
Treatment
There are many treatment options for sleep apnea. Dr. Winter will go over the appropriate options during your follow-up appointment where both of you can decide the best treatment that will work for you. Weight loss, physical training, and avoiding lifestyle risk factors (smoking, consuming alcohol, taking sedatives, and muscle relaxer medications) are generally recommended to all OSA patients. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most customarily prescribed treatment. Other treatments available to certain individuals include surgery and/or dental implants/devices.
CPAP is a device that provides air pressure via a mask during the night. This air pressure maintains upper airway and prevents it from collapsing. Dr. Winter provides patients who are candidates for CPAP therapy with a prescription for the device. Unlike a normal prescription, the CPAP cannot be picked up from a local pharmacy. A specialized CPAP provider will help you get fitted for the device and take you through the next steps of making CPAP Our office can direct you to a company that is best suited to your location and insurance plan. This CPAP provider will guide you through the next steps of getting comfortable with with the device, having a proper fitting mask, and choosing the best options for you.