What is sleep apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that is caused by repeated upper airway collapse during sleep. If left untreated OSA can increase your risks of developing cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions.

The main types of sleep apnea are:

Obstructive Sleep Apena

The most common form in the adult population. Categorized as mild, moderate or severe. Occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep causing pauses in breathing.

Central Sleep Apnea

Occurs when your brain doesn’t send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. This occurs in less than 1% of people diagnosed with Sleep apnea.

Mixed Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Treatment can eliminate your symptoms and may help prevent heart problems and other complications. Here at Breathe Well we treat all types of sleep apnea.

Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea

Signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have. To help diagnose, schedule a sleep test without our experts.

  • Snoring

  • Pauses in breath during sleep

  • Gasping

  • Restless sleep

  • Daytime sleepiness

  • Frequent trips to the bathroom at night

  • Morning headaches

  • Irritability

  • Depression

  • Hypertension

  • Insulin-resistant diabetes

Loud snoring can often indicate a sleep disorder, but not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. Talk to your doctor or schedule a sleep test with us if you have any of the listed symptoms that leave you feeling fatigued, sleepy, and irritable.

What is the main cause of sleep apnea?

In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with the soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.

Other risk factors for developing sleep apnea include:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

  • a narrowed airway
  • being male – men are 2x-3x more likely to have sleep apnea than women
  • age – older adults are more likely to develop sleep apnea
  • family history
  • use of alcohol, smoking
  • post menopausal women
  • fibromyalgia
  • medical conditions such as high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and insulin resistant diabetes may increase your risk

Central Sleep Apnea

  • Age
  • Being male
  • Heart disorders (congestive heart)
  • Using narcotic pain medications
  • Stroke

Living with sleep apnea

For mild cases, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If further action is needed, there are a number of treatments available. At Breathe Well, we specialize in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) treatments.

Life with treated sleep apnea results in significant improvements in sleep quality, rest, mood, focus, and clarity, along with the possibility of decreased blood pressure, blood sugar, and other health-related concerns.