What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that causes disruptions in your breathing during sleep. It can have serious consequences on your health if left untreated, so it’s important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
The Two Main Types of Sleep Apnea
When you have sleep apnea, your airway becomes blocked or collapses during sleep, causing you to stop breathing briefly. These pauses in breathing, called apneas, can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes and can occur dozens or even hundreds of times a night.
There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea,
and it occurs when the muscles in your throat fail to keep your airway open, despite the effort to breathe. This can be caused by a number of factors, including
- obesity,
- smoking,
- alcohol consumption,
- and the use of sedative medications.
OSA is often characterized by loud snoring and choking or gasping for air during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
CSA, on the other hand, occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to a problem with the brain’s respiratory control center.
This type of sleep apnea is less common, and a variety of medical conditions, such as heart failure or stroke, can cause it. CSA is often characterized by shallow or slow breathing during sleep.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
loud snoring
pauses in breathing during sleep
headaches, sore throat, and dry mouth upon waking
difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
excessive daytime sleepiness and focus loss
If you experience any of these symptoms, Western Sleep Solutions can help you with an at-home sleep test that will be assessed by a board certified sleep physican for an official diagnosis.
Sleep apnea can have serious consequences on your health if left untreated. It can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and even death. It can also cause or worsen problems with memory and concentration, and increase the risk of accidents due to drowsy driving.
A sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, is usually the best way to diagnose sleep apnea.
This test measures various bodily functions during sleep, including brain activity, eye movement, muscle activity, and breathing.
A sleep study can be conducted in a sleep center or at home with the use of a portable sleep monitor.