What Is Sleep Apnea? Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people. It can cause a wide range of health problems, including snoring, daytime fatigue and poor dental health. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and depression.

Obstructive sleep apnea most often affects men and those who are overweight. Those with a history of heart conditions or those taking certain medications like narcotics are also at risk.

Causes

People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea Russellville KY stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, leading to low blood oxygen levels. During these episodes, the tongue is sucked against the back of the throat and the airway becomes blocked. After a short pause, the person awakens and starts breathing normally again with a loud gasp. This repeated cycle of low oxygenation leads to serious cardiovascular problems.

The lack of restorative sleep caused by apnea can cause daytime fatigue and make it difficult to concentrate or focus. This can increase the risk of accidents and injuries at work, at home or on the road. It can also contribute to moodiness, irritability and depression.

Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in men than women, and it tends to get worse with age. Being overweight increases your risk for developing this condition, as does the use of sedatives or alcohol and smoking. People with congestive heart failure, nasal congestion, a history of stroke or polycystic ovary syndrome have a higher risk of suffering from this disorder.

Symptoms

People with obstructive sleep apnea stop breathing hundreds of times a night. They wake up with a sore throat or dry mouth, or with a feeling of breathlessness or choking. This is because the oxygen level in their blood drops and they have to struggle for air. This robs them of energy and leads to fatigue. They have trouble concentrating at work or in school and often experience memory problems.

The condition can lead to serious health issues. For example, it can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It can also cause problems with medications and with certain surgeries, because it makes it harder to breathe when sedated or lying on your back.

Adults and children with these symptoms should talk to their healthcare provider. They may recommend a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis. The sleep center at Baptist Health Russellville is equipped to evaluate a wide range of sleep disorders in adults and children as young as four years old.

Diagnosis

If you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnea Russellville KY, it’s important to see your primary care provider. Based on symptoms and medical history, your doctor can recommend completing a sleep study. This test is performed overnight in a lab or at home with sensors that monitor heart rate, blood oxygen levels, airflow, arm and leg movement, brain waves and more.

This is the most accurate way to diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. The Norton Sleep Center is equipped to evaluate a wide variety of adult and pediatric patients.

Your primary care provider may also suggest home sleep apnea testing, which is an at-home version of a polysomnogram that doesn’t involve brain wave monitoring. Using a video or audio recording of yourself or your loved one sleeping can help speed up the diagnosis. If you’re able to demonstrate that air is moving through the nose and mouth during sleep, this can be a strong indication of obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatment

A wide variety of treatment options are available for sleep apnea. Simple lifestyle changes are often effective, such as losing weight, refraining from smoking or drinking alcohol before sleeping, and sleeping on the side rather than on your back.

The most common treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea Russellville KY is using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. CPAP machines provide constant air pressure to keep the throat open, and they are generally easy to learn how to use. Several different masks and sizes are available to ensure you can find one that is comfortable and suits your face shape.

Oral devices are also useful in preventing airway obstruction. Mandibular advancement mouthpieces are custom dental devices that keep the lower jaw in a forward position, preventing the tongue from falling backward into the airway. Other mouthpieces, called removable tongue muscle stimulators, are used once a day to strengthen and position the tongue during sleep. Surgical options can also be effective, including removal of the tonsils and adenoids.