Sleep apnea is a condition that interrupts your breathing during sleep. Your breathing stops for 10 to 20 seconds each time, preventing you from getting the deep, restful sleep that’s important for good health. People with sleep apnea feel tired during the day and have trouble concentrating, even after they get a full night’s sleep. The disorder may raise your risk for heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and other diseases that affect the lungs, blood vessels, liver and kidneys.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway is narrowed or blocked during sleep. It is most common in older adults, but can happen to anyone. Large tonsils, excess weight, adenoids, age-related changes and other factors can increase your chances of developing this type of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is less common, but it is more serious and can be associated with many health problems. People with this type of sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night because of problems with the way their brain signals their chest and throat muscles to breathe. Some factors that raise your risk of central sleep apnea include being obese, having a large tongue, sleeping on your back, using certain medicines and spending time at high altitudes.
Both obstructive and central sleep apnea are linked to high blood pressure, which can damage the arteries. High blood pressure can also cause heart disease, stroke, high blood cholesterol, and abnormal heart rhythms (abnormal beats, or arrhythmias).
A health care provider can diagnose sleep apnea by asking you about your symptoms, performing a physical exam and asking for a family history of the disorder. He or she will probably recommend a home video or a portable device that records your breathing during sleep, called a sleep study.
Some treatments for sleep apnea involve lifestyle changes, mouthpieces or surgery. Oral appliances, such as a mouthguard that pulls your jaw forward to help keep the airway open or a device that holds your lower jaw in a more upright position, are often effective in treating snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Surgery to remove the adenoids, large tonsils or the excess tissue at the back of the throat can also improve some cases of obstructive sleep apnea.
Whether your treatment for sleep apnea involves lifestyle or medical treatments, you’ll need to stick with the plan to see results. Keeping in touch with your healthcare provider and reporting any ongoing symptoms or challenges can help you adjust your treatment to stay on track. You should also avoid high-risk activities when you’re drowsy, such as driving or operating machinery. This will protect you from accidents that can lead to serious health problems. Keeping up with routine maintenance and cleaning of your treatment devices can also help you avoid unwanted side effects. For example, you should clean and disinfect your CPAP machine daily. If you don’t, bacteria can grow and irritate your nasal passages. In some people, this can trigger an allergic reaction.