Sleep Apnea: More Serious Than it Sounds; More Prevalent Than You Think

The College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University report that "twenty-four percent of adult men and nine percent of adult women, or more than 20 million Americans, are estimated to have some degree of obstructive sleep apnea. Of these, six million are estimated to have cases severe enough to warrant immediate therapeutic intervention."

What Is Sleep Apnea?

In sleep apnea, breathing pauses or stops during sleep for 10 seconds or more at least five time per hour of sleep. These pauses, called apneas, each last long enough so one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep Each pause in breathing typically lasts 10 to 20 seconds or more and apneas can occur 20 to 30 times or more an hour.

Two types of sleep apneas have been defined: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea. OSA is the most common and typically involves an obstruction or partial blockage in the airway. Central sleep apnea is rare, and is not a physical condition but rather one in which the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Central sleep apnea usually occurs in people with either central nervous system dysfunction, after a stroke or similar event or in those with diseases like ALS and other neuromuscular diseases.

What Are The Risk Factors For Sleep Apnea?

If you are a 40 year old, overweight male, you are among those most likely to have obstructive sleep apnea. Keep in mind though, sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women) seems to increase a person's risk of having OSA, as does having large tonsils or an abundance of tissue in the back of the throat. In the case of enlarged tonsils or adenoids, removal may be the only treatment required to eliminate the condition. There also appears to be a genetic role involved in some people since it can run in families.

What Are The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?