28th of June, 2017
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep condition in which the flow of air is decreased while you are asleep because the airway is obstructed or narrowed.
On occasion, this can happen to anyone but when it is not a consistent issue, it is called a "sleep apnea episode."
Two types of sleep apnea exist:
- CSA (Central Sleep Apnea): This type of sleep apnea occurs when the brain and muscles are not in sync. The brain does not signal the muscles to breath and breathing can stop. It is less common than Obstructive sleep apnea.
- OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea): This type of sleep apnea occurs when the airway is blocked and air does not have free passage to the lungs. This is a more common type of sleep apnea. This often occurs when "soft tissue" obstructs the passage way. These muscles become more relaxed during sleep, and fall back and block the airway.
A common and annoying symptom of sleep apnea can be snoring. Snoring occurs when the area is trying to get past the obstruction and into the airway.
Some characteristics that increase the likelihood for sleep apnea are:
- Unique shapes of the airway that cause the airway to be narrower or collapse
- Large neck or collar size (17 inches or more in men and 16 inches or more in women)
- Large tongue, which may fall back and block the airway
- Being overweight, pregnant or obese
- Large tonsils and adenoids in children that can block the airway
- A lower jaw that is shorter than the upper jawA narrow airway that is smaller than average
- Tips for Preventing Sleep Apnea:
- Losing weight if you are overweight.
- Do not sleep on your back.
- Decreasing or cutting out alcoholic drinks.
- Adjusting sleeping positions to open up airway.
- Quit Smoking Cigarettes. Smoking can increase the swelling in the nasal passage and increase the risks for apnea.