Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition which occurs due to a narrow, loose, or blocked airway. While you are asleep the flow of air decreases (hypopnea) or even pauses (apnea) while breathing. Apnea is normal while sleep, however the degree to which they occur can ultimately cause problems.
Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
There are a number of causes of obstructive sleep apnea, while most of which just happen natural due to changes in the body during sleep. The entire body is calm and relaxed during sleep which results in the muscles that control the airway and allow air to flow freely into the lungs to relax as well.
For people who have a narrower throat, it is difficult to keep the airway clear. The upper throat muscles relax and result in stopped breathing for periods beyond 10 seconds at one time. This is what is known as apnea. Usually this results in snoring, the sound caused by hair trying to escape through the blocked or narrowed airway. Although not all snoring is caused by obstructive sleep apnea, most cases of apnea result in some type of snoring. There are many factors that can increase the odds of having sleep apnea.
Some of which include:
- Having a lower jaw which is shorter than the upper jaw
- A palate shaped in a way that causes the airway to collapse or become narrower
- Larger tonsils and adenoids
- Large neck or collar
- Larger tongue which can fall to the back of the throat or cause blockage in the airway
- Being overweight or obese
- Sleeping on your back
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Testing
A medical care provider usually conducts a thorough sleep apnea test and collects a complete history of the patient to find out information about their daytime sleepiness, quality of sleep, and bedtime habits. They will also want to examine the neck, throat, and entire airway to check for signs related to obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep studies are also conducted to confirm that the patient in fact does have obstructive sleep apnea. Do not be surprised if they ask to conduct other supportive tests such as an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and thyroid function studies. These can all help determine the cause and help find a form treatment for the patient.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
It is often difficult for an individual suffering from sleep apnea to recognize that the episodes are occurring. Instead, it usually takes an individual witnessing obstructive sleep apnea occurring for the problem to be recognized.
Obstructive sleep apnea is usually characterized by heavy snoring shortly after the individual falls asleep. As the snoring begins to grow louder there are usually interrupted periods filled with long silences in which no breathing occurs. Soon after the individual will snort or gasp loudly as the body attempts to grasp air. This can occur throughout the night or only a few times depending upon the severity of the symptoms. The individual suffering from obstructive sleep apnea feels sleepy, drowsy, and unrefreshed all day.
Individuals Suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea tend to:
- Be forgetful
- Become irritable
- Get impatient throughout the day
- Act grumpy
- Fall asleep at any downtime (i.e. watching TV)
- Risk falling asleep while driving
- Difficulty with headaches
- Depression
- Hyperactivity particularly in kids
- Leg inflammation (if serious)