Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects millions of Americans and a billion people worldwide. Nevertheless, most people are not aware they suffer from it. It's characterized by disruptions in breathing while you sleep, leading to a lack of restful sleep and a lot of potential health risks. But what exactly is sleep apnea, and why is it considered dangerous?
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat fail to keep your airway open, despite the effort to breathe. This results in brief periods where you stop breathing, leading to frequent awakenings and a lack of deep sleep. There are two main types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA).
But Why Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Sleep apnea can have serious consequences if left untreated. Here are some of the dangers associated with sleep apnea:
High Blood Pressure: Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, resulting from the lack of oxygen uptake that occurs when you stop breathing, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Heart Disease: People with sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
Type 2 Diabetes: Sleep apnea has also been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Dementia: People with sleep apnea have been shown not only to have impaired memory and executive function, but also biomarker changes that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Mental Health: Sleep apnea and the resulting lack of sleep, can also impact mental health, causing depression, anxiety, and memory problems.
Daytime Drowsiness: People with sleep apnea often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, which can impair their ability to perform daily activities and increase the risk
Risk Factors
Even though sleep apnea can affect anyone, men are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from it. Here are other factors that can increase your risk of suffering from sleep apnea:
Excess weight: Obesity greatly increases your risk of being affected by sleep apnea. Fat deposits around your neck can block your breathing.
Having a neck circumference greater than 17 inches: People with thicker necks tend to have narrower airways. This is why a lot of athletes who play sports such as basketball, American football or wrestling have sleep apnea, because they have a lot of muscle around the neck which adds to the pressure on the airways.
Being older: Sleep apnea occurs significantly more in older men than in younger men, but is still extremely common at any age.
Family history: Having a first degree relative with sleep apnea might increase your risk fourfold.
Smoking: People who smoke are 3 times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea compared to those who have never smoked. Smoking increases the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airways.
Nasal congestion: If you have trouble breathing through your nose due to allergies or anatomical problems, you are more likely to have sleep apnea.
Medical conditions such as hormonal and cardiovascular disorders
If sleep apnea is dangerous, can it be treated?
Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and sleeping on their side can help reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the pressure on the airway, and avoiding alcohol and sedatives can help reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Although these lifestyle changes can make a difference, they are often not enough to completely treat sleep apnea alone.
CPAP therapy is a common treatment for sleep apnea. A CPAP machine delivers a constant stream of air through a mask that is worn over the nose or mouth during sleep. The air pressure is set to a level that is just enough to keep the airway open. CPAP therapy can be effective in reducing the number of apneas and improving the quality of sleep.
Dental appliances can also be used to treat sleep apnea. These appliances, which can be worn in the mouth during sleep, reposition the jaw and tongue to help keep the airway open. They can be effective for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea but may not work for everyone.
Surgery is another option for treating sleep apnea. Surgery can be used to remove excess tissue from the airway or to reposition the jaw and tongue, or the tongue alone, to help keep the airway open. Hyoglossal nerve (the nerve that innervates the tongue) stimulation therapy is a rapidly growing surgery for patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea.
The best treatment for you will depend on the severity of your sleep apnea, your overall health, and your personal preferences.
If you are concerned about your health or want to understand more about what makes sleep apnea dangerous, then you should speak to a board-certified sleep medicine doctor about getting a home sleep test.
Book an appointment with an Ognomy sleep specialist today or download the app in App Store or Google Play