Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing stops and starts repeatedly throughout the night. It can leave you feeling tired and sluggish all day and affect your daily activities. Sleep apnea is also associated with severe health issues if left untreated.
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What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a type of breathing disorder.
People with this condition stop breathing for short periods of 10 seconds or more while they sleep. They may not even know that their nighttime breathing is abnormal, but they won’t feel rested in the morning.
Sleep apnea can greatly reduce your sleep quality and interfere with daily life. Working, driving, socializing, and enjoying life may become more difficult. If left untreated, sleep apnea can develop into serious health conditions.
What are the types of sleep apnea?
There are two types of sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
OSA is the most common type. It happens when your:
- Airway narrows.
- Blood oxygen levels decrease.
- Throat muscles relax too far.
Once your brain senses the problem, you startle awake — snorting, choking, or gasping for air.
Central sleep apnea (CSA)
CSA happens when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that help with breathing. It's often found in people with other health problems, like heart failure or stroke.
How common is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is common. About 26% of all Americans have some form of sleep apnea. The actual number may be higher than that, as many cases may go undetected.
What causes sleep apnea?
OSA is caused by the throat muscles relaxing during sleep, which causes the airway to narrow and obstructs breathing. This lack of oxygen will occur repeatedly during the night, causing partial or full awakenings.
CSA is caused by a miscommunication between the brain and breathing muscles. The brain stem is unable to detect carbon dioxide levels, causing shallow and slow breathing.
Sleep apnea risk factors
Risk factors for sleep apnea vary depending on the type you have.
You have a higher chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea if you:
- Are male.
- Are older.
- Are overweight.
- Drink alcohol.
- Having a family history of sleep apnea.
- Have a large neck.
- Have nasal congestion.
- Smoke cigarettes.
- Use sedation drugs.
Your risk for central sleep apnea increases if you:
- Are male.
- Are older.
- Have had a stroke.
- Have heart issues.
- Sleep at high altitudes.
- Take opioid drugs.
Complications of sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea can increase your risk of developing other health problems, such as:
- Accidents from drowsy driving/functioning.
- Depression.
- Diabetes.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Headaches.
- Heart attack.
- High blood pressure.
- Memory loss.
- Mood changes.
- Stroke.
- Thinking problems.
How can I prevent sleep apnea?
While you can’t entirely prevent sleep apnea from starting, you can work with your doctor to find effective solutions to treat the condition and reduce symptoms.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
If your bed partner notices that you stop breathing for periods during sleep, you should see a doctor.
You should also get checked for sleep apnea if you:
- Are drowsy throughout the day.
- Are irritable.
- Are tired or have a headache when you wake up.
- Gasp for air during sleep.
- Have insomnia (a hard time staying asleep).
- Have less interest in sex.
- Have mood changes.
- Snore.
- Wake up with a dry mouth.
When should I see a doctor about my sleep apnea symptoms?
If you have any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider to talk about sleep apnea. A faster diagnosis leads to faster treatment.
How Do You Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
First, your doctor will ask you questions about your current symptoms and health history. They may also perform a physical exam.
Depending on the exam, your doctor may recommend a sleep study.
What is a sleep study?
Sleep studies are tests that record the physiological changes that occur in your body during sleep. The studies are done to find out what is causing your sleep problem. Sleep studies can also determine whether you have a problem with your stages of sleep.
All-night sleep (ANS) study
The most common sleep study used to diagnose neurologic, movement, and breathing disorders is the all-night sleep study, which requires an overnight stay at a sleep center.
A sleep technician will place sensors on your chest, abdomen, face, scalp, and legs. These sensors track brain waves and respiratory rate to learn about your sleep stages and breathing patterns at night.
While you sleep, the sensors will detect:
- Airflow from the nose and mouth.
- Blood oxygen levels.
- Eye movements.
- Heart rhythm.
- If you're asleep or awake.
- Leg movement.
- Stages of sleep.
During your overnight stay, a camera will be used to record your movements while you're sleeping.
Other sleep studies
We also offer these sleep studies:
- Home sleep apnea testing — Simple sleep study you can do in the comfort of your own sleeping environment and on your own schedule. Usually recommended as a first step toward a sleep apnea diagnosis, the home test may be followed by an all-night sleep study to confirm the diagnosis.
- Maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) — Used to measure your alertness throughout the day and how you respond to sleep disorder treatment.
- Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) — Used to see how quickly you can fall asleep during the day.
How Do You Treat Sleep Apnea?
The goal of treating sleep apnea is to improve sleep quality and reduce sleep interruptions. Your treatment may depend on the type of sleep apnea and how severe your condition is. You may need to try a combination of treatment options to find what works best for you.
Lifestyle changes to treat mild sleep apnea
Your doctor may suggest you make some lifestyle changes.
Mild sleep apnea may get better if you:
- Change sleeping positions (lying on your side instead of your back).
- Cut back on alcohol, especially before you go to bed.
- Manage your weight.
Medical sleep apnea treatments
If your sleep apnea is more severe, you may need to make more than just lifestyle changes.
Some treatment options are:
- Inspire® – Your doctor may implant a small device that stimulates the upper airway while you sleep.
- Medicine – Your doctor may recommend medications that can help reduce daytime sleepiness.
- Oral appliance therapy – You may need to visit your dentist to have a custom mouthpiece made. You wear it during sleep to keep your airway open.
- Positive pressure (PAP) therapy – Your doctor may recommend using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. It's a device that uses a mask or nasal cap to deliver a constant flow of air into the nose or mouth while you sleep.
You can expect regular follow-up visits with your care team to monitor your progress and assess the effectiveness of your treatment.
Sleep apnea prognosis
Living with sleep apnea can take some getting used to. Working with your care team to create a treatment plan and staying up to date with checkups can help keep the condition manageable.
Other ways to live a healthy life with sleep apnea include:
- Avoid alcohol – Drinking alcohol can worsen sleep apnea symptoms.
- Clean your treatment devices – It’s important to properly clean and maintain your mouthpieces, CPAP machine, and any other sleep devices to keep them sanitary and working longer.
- Know your limits – Some activities that require a lot of attention, such as operating heavy machinery and driving, can become dangerous when drowsy from sleep apnea. Know when to limit activities until the treatment begins to work.
Surgery to treat sleep apnea
Many types of sleep apnea surgeries can help remove blockages. Your doctor will talk to you about which option might be best.
Some of the most common sleep apnea surgeries include:
- Nasal surgery – Septoplasty is the most common nasal surgery to treat sleep apnea. This procedure fixes a deviated septum by moving the soft tissue of the nose to allow better airflow. Other nasal surgeries to treat OSA include rhinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery.
- Jaw surgery – Maxillomandibular advancement is the name of a common jaw surgery for people with OSA. In this procedure, the jawbone is moved forward to allow for better airflow in the throat.
- Tongue surgery – If your tongue is blocking airways and causing OSA, tongue surgery to remove excess tissue or remove the genioglossus muscle or hyoid bone can help cure sleep apnea symptoms.
Surgical options come with inherent risks that include bleeding and a change of appearance in surgeries that involve moving tissue and bones.
With proper treatment for sleep apnea, you can start getting a good night's sleep and feeling more like yourself again.
Why Choose UPMC for Sleep Apnea Care?
Our team of specialty-trained sleep medicine physicians conducts comprehensive sleep histories and examinations and offers the latest in diagnostic sleep testing. Some of this testing can often be completed in the comfort of your own home. After diagnosis, we offer a range of noninvasive treatments according to a unique treatment plan created specifically for you.
