What is Sleep Apnea and Who Does it Affect

Sleep apnea is a temporary suspension of breathing, occurring repeatedly during sleep that often affects overweight people or those having an obstruction in the breathing tract, an abnormally small throat opening, or a neurological disorder. These pauses in breathing can last up to 35 seconds and occur frequently throughout the night. When breathing stops the level of oxygen in the blood drops also.

There are three types of sleep apnea

1. Obstructive (OSA) - OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea.

2. Central -Central sleep apnea is a far rarer type of sleep apnea, which occurs when the brain signal that instructs the body to breathe is delayed. This central nervous system disorder can be caused by disease or injury involving the brainstem, such as a stroke, a brain tumor, a viral brain infection, or a chronic respiratory disease. People with CSA seldom snore

3. Mixed-Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the two other types of sleep apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea. A person with mixed sleep apnea will often snore, but finds that treatments which only help obstructions in the airways do not completely stop apnea episodes. Treatment usually includes a combination of the treatments used for OSA and CSA.

Obesity can trigger OSA. Loud snoring is also an indication that one might have sleep apnea but is not always the case. People who have sleep apnea may not know that they have this disorder. A relative or friend might be witness to these symptoms especially if they hear the pauses in breathing at night.

Sleep Apnea can be a dangerous disorder if not treated.

With all the pauses in breathing at night, normal sleep is interrupted and you will be sleepy during the day. Some car accidents have been caused by people with sleep apnea. That is why it is important that they see a doctor immediately. If you fall asleep at a stop sign or a red light that is an indication of sleep apnea.

Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, pulmonary hypertension, abnormal heart rate, coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure.

More symptoms of sleep apnea

1. Getting up in the middle of the night to urinate