If you are wondering what to do if you have sleep apnea, you are in the right place.
Today’s comprehensive guide will provide all the necessary information about this common yet serious sleep disorder, which can affect one’s health and quality of life.
Let’s find out all you need to know about sleep apnea!
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a medical condition where your breathing is repeatedly and temporarily interrupted during sleep.
These interruptions can occur multiple times per night, often causing brief awakenings (without conscious awareness), leading to disrupted sleep and poor rest.
Types of sleep apnea
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
1. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea.
It occurs when the throat muscles relax excessively during sleep, causing surrounding tissues to press on your windpipe.
As a result, the airway at the back of the throat is blocked, which leads to snoring or gasping for air.
2. Central sleep apnea (CSA)
Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the muscles that control breathing.
Unlike OSA, CSA is not caused by a physical blockage but by disrupted communication between the brain and respiratory muscles.
CSA is less common than OSA and is usually associated with heart problems or other neurological disorders.
3. Complex sleep apnea
Some people may suffer from both types, which is known as complex sleep apnea.
What causes sleep apnea?
Let’s see what the main cause of each type is:
What causes obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when muscles in the throat relax, narrowing or blocking the upper airway.
This means you can’t get enough air, which reduces blood oxygen levels. Your brain briefly wakes you up so that you can get air.
What causes central sleep apnea?
Central sleep apnea happens when your brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles that control breathing.
The brainstem (which connects the brain with the spinal cord) regulates functions like heart rate and breathing. CSA often stems from conditions that affect the brainstem, disrupting its control over involuntary breathing functions.
Sleep apnea risk factors
Risk factors are different in OSA and CSA. Let’s see the most important ones for each type of sleep apnea:
Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea
- Obesity: Increased neck fat can block the upper airway.
- Anatomical abnormalities such as a large tongue, neck, or large tonsils.
- Age: Risk increases after your 60s and 70s.
- Sex: Men are more likely to get diagnosed with sleep apnea.
- Family history: Having family members with OSA might increase your risk.
- Lifestyle (e.g. smoking or drinking alcohol)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
Risk factors for central sleep apnea
- Age
- Sex
- Opioid use: Long-term use of opioid-based medicines can affect the brain and challenge its ability to control sleep.
- High altitude: Low oxygen can trigger sleep apnea episodes.
- Premature birth
- Family history
- Lifestyle (e.g. smoking or drinking alcohol)
- Neurological disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, etc.)
- Heart conditions (e.g. congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, etc.)
- Damage to the brainstem from stroke, injury, or swelling (encephalitis)
The main symptoms of sleep apnea
But how can I know if I have sleep apnea?
This can be tricky, since the symptoms may occur while sleeping. The most frequent symptoms of each type of sleep apnea are:
Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or memory issues
- Sore throat or dry mouth
- Irritability or mood swings
- Sexual dysfunction
Central sleep apnea symptoms
- Abnormal breathing patterns or periods of no breathing during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Trouble focusing or remembering
- Waking up often during the night
- Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
- Mood changes
How to see if you have sleep apnea – Diagnosis & tests
If you spot any of the signs we saw above and you suspect you have sleep apnea, it’s essential to get a professional diagnosis.
Visit your doctor for an evaluation based on your symptoms and sleep history. If your healthcare provider suspects the condition, he or she may recommend testing.
But what kind of tests can diagnose sleep apnea? Let’s find out the most common ones:
- Nocturnal polysomnography (sleep study): This test is conducted overnight in a sleep lab. Specialised equipment monitors your breathing patterns, heart rate, lung and brain activity, and blood oxygen levels (with the use of a pulse oximeter) while sleeping.
- Home sleep test: A simplified version of polysomnography conducted at home to measure heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and breathing patterns, but not brain activity. However, home sleep testing can’t diagnose central sleep apnea.
Other tests for the diagnosis of sleep apnea include:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Electrooculogram (EOG)
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Electromyogram (EMG)
Sleep apnea treatments
There are several treatments available, depending on the severity of your sleep apnea.
1. CPAP machine
One of the most common and effective treatments for sleep apnea is using a quality CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure).
These devices use CPAP face masks to deliver constant airflow into your airway, helping you breathe better during your sleep.
Although CPAP devices are the most reliable treatment option for sleep apnea, many people are uncomfortable wearing them while sleeping.
That’s why you should probably try many types of face masks to decide which one suits you best if you struggle with apnea episodes.
You can also use BIPAP machines. They are like CPAP devices, only they won’t give the same, constant pressure all the time.
2. Oral appliances
Another option is wearing an oral appliance or device.
Oral appliances are custom dental devices that treat mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea by physically opening the airway.
There are two types of these devices:
- Mandibular repositioning mouthpieces (keeping the lower jaw forward and preventing it from sliding backwards and blocking the airway)
- Tongue-retaining devices (holding the tongue in a forward position so that it doesn’t block the airway)
3. Medicines
A weight-loss medicine has been recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe OSA.
It is called Zepbound (tirzepatide) and is injected under the skin. Your healthcare provider will probably also recommend physical exercise and a reduced-calorie diet.
4. Surgery
Surgery is an option only when other treatments have failed and it is usually recommended for people with severe obstructive sleep apnea.
The most common surgery options include:
- Tonsillectomy (tonsils removal)
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP (tissue removal from the back of the mouth and the top of the throat)
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (stimulation of the nerve under the tongue to keep the airways open)
- Jaw repositioning
- Weight-loss surgery (if obesity contributes to your condition and nothing else works)
- Tracheostomy (surgical opening in the neck, in case of life-threatening OSA)
What to do to help with sleep apnea (or even prevent it)
Managing sleep apnea involves making certain adjustments on your own.
Try the following tips to improve your symptoms or prevent sleep apnea:
What to do:
- Lose weightto reduce excess fat around your neck.
- Exercise regularlyto improve sleep quality (and maintain a healthy weight).
- Sleep on your side(and not your back) to prevent airway blocking.
- Elevate the head of your bed to help reduce symptoms during sleep.
- Maintain healthy sleeping habits (e.g. sleep and wake up at the same time every day).
What not to do:
- Quit smoking to reduce inflammation.
- Don’t drink alcohol before bed, as it relaxes throat muscles.
- Don’t take sleeping pills or tranquilisers as they also relax throat muscles.
What to do if you have sleep apnea – FAQs
1. Can I recover from sleep apnea?
2. How to sleep if you have sleep apnea?
3. Can sleep apnea kill you?
4. What should I do if I suspect sleep apnea?
5. Can you have sleep apnea and not wake up?
6. Can you drive if you have sleep apnea?
What to do when you have sleep apnea – Conclusion
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that requires proper management to avoid any complications.
By regularly visiting your doctor, following the right treatment plan, and making lifestyle changes, you can significantly improve the quality of your sleep and life.
By the way, explore Advanced Healthcare’s oxygen therapy section and find everything you need!
