Sleep Apnea

📘 Introduction

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects more than 18 million Indians. The word apnea means pauses in breathing; people who have sleep apnea literally stop breathing for short periods of time while sleeping. The pauses in breath usually last only a few seconds, but a person with sleep apnea may stop breathing many times in an hour, and hundreds of times over the course of a night. Most people with sleep apnea are unaware of their condition.

There are two kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, occurs when parts of the upper airway block breathing at the back of the throat. This blockage can occur when the muscles of the throat relax during sleep.

Central sleep apnea is much less common. It occurs when the brain fails to properly send “breathe” signals to the rest of the body.

The pauses in breath that characterize sleep apnea interfere with the delivery of oxygen to the body. Sleep apnea can lead to mood and memory problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, impotence and headaches. Untreated sleep apnea is a potentially life‑threatening condition.

😴 Symptoms

• Snoring is the most common symptom. Friends or family members often report hearing very loud snoring, breath pauses, gasping or choking.

• Frequent awakenings (often unremembered) lead to extreme fatigue.

• People with sleep apnea may fall asleep at work, while watching TV, or even driving.

• Other signs: morning headaches, memory problems, frequent urination, dry mouth, inability to concentrate, irritability, mood swings.

• Adults and children can suffer — in children it can cause poor school performance, behavioral issues, and hyperactivity.

⚠️ Causes

• Central sleep apnea occurs due to brain signal failures and is often linked to serious illness, brainstem injury, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke.

• Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by airway obstruction at night when throat muscles relax. Enlarged tonsils or tongue can block breathing.

🔍 Risk Factors

• Overweight individuals and those over 40 are at higher risk.

• Family history may play a role.

• Small or unusually shaped airways (overbite, recessed chin).

• Allergies, smoking, alcohol use.

• Higher prevalence among African‑Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics.

💔 Complications

• Decreased oxygen leads to chronic stress hormone release, which may cause high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms (like atrial fibrillation), heart failure, heart attacks, and stroke.

• Sleep apnea can worsen existing cardiovascular conditions or hinder treatment for high blood pressure.

📝 Preparing for Your Appointment

• Keep a sleep diary and record symptoms like snoring or gasping.

• List medications, supplements, and family history (including snoring or sleep difficulties).

• Share your diary and records with your partner during the visit.

🧪 Tests & Diagnosis

• A clinician will review symptoms and inspect the upper airway.

• Suspected sleep apnea leads to a sleep study (polysomnogram/PSG).

• Split‑night sleep studies may diagnose and treat in one night.

• Home-based sleep studies can be used if appropriate.

The sleep study tracks breathing, heart rate, oxygen, brain activity, and movement overnight.

💡 Treatment

Lifestyle Modifications:

• Avoid alcohol before bed

• Maintain healthy weight

• Sleep on your side

• Quit smoking

Medical Devices:

• CPAP machines to keep airways open (most common)

• BiPAP/EPAP devices for pressure adjustments

Oral Appliances:

• Custom-made mouthpieces repositioning the jaw/tongue

Surgical Options:

• Tonsil/adenoid removal

• Nasal surgery (e.g., septoplasty)

• UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty)

• Soft palate implants or jaw surgery

• Tracheostomy in severe, life-threatening cases

🏡 Lifestyle & Home Remedies

• Maintain consistent sleep schedule (7–8 hours)

• Avoid alcohol and smoking

• Reach a healthy weight

• Inform all health providers if you have sleep apnea

🤝 Support & Resources

Treatment benefits the whole household. Be patient, discuss concerns, and consider support groups. Better sleep for one means better well-being for everyone.