Sleep Apnea Definition, Symptoms, and Treatment

Prevent sleep apnea from making you toss and turn all night long – robbing you of restorative rest and sleep. Knowing how to identify an issue with sleep apnea will help you seek out the correct treatment.

yourfootpalace.com gathered information about the definition, multiple symptoms, and treatments for sleep apnea.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is defined as a sleeping disorder potentially leading to severe health problems, like high blood pressure and heart issues. Untreated sleep apnea causes one’s breathing to stop repeatedly during sleep, causing snoring and daytime sleepiness, even after a whole night’s sleep. Sleep apnea may affect anyone, but it occurs most often with older, overweight men.

Types of sleep apnea include:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – This is the more common form, occurring when throat muscles relax. This type of sleep apnea is classified as follows:

• Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI (apnea-hypopnea index) is between 5 and 15
• Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30
• Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour)

Central Sleep Apnea – This form of sleep apnea occurs when your brain isn’t sending proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome – Finally, this form of sleep apnea occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Note: Sleep apnea occurs in about 3 percent of normal-weight individuals but affects over 20 percent of overweight or obese people. Typically, sleep apnea affects more men than women. Sleep apnea is frequently linked to heart disease and metabolic issues like diabetes.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Frequently, the initial signs of OSA are not detected by the patient but by their bed partner. Many of those affected by OSH have no sleep complaints. Common signs and symptoms of OSA include:

• Snoring.
• Daytime sleepiness or fatigue.
• Cognitive impairment, such as trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, or irritability.
• Mood disturbances (depression or anxiety).
• Night sweats.
• Frequent nighttime urination.
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Headaches.
• Restlessness during sleep, frequent nighttime awakenings.
• Sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking.
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening.
• People with central sleep apnea often report recurrent awakenings or insomnia; they may also experience a choking or gasping sensation upon awakening.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

It is widely understood that regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet are the most essential activities for your cardiovascular health. However, it has become increasingly evident that your sleep quality is also critical to your heart’s wellbeing.

Positive Airway Pressure Devices – Positive airway pressure machines, known as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines, are the most commonly used treatment method for moderate and severe sleep apnea.

Note: The mask, when worn properly during sleep, supplies pressurized air, flowing continuously or intermittently to the sleeper’s esophagus. The increased air pressure prevents the sleeper’s airway from collapsing.

PAP machines eliminate snoring in addition to treating obstructive sleep apnea.

Oral Appliances – Oral appliances for sleep apnea treatment continue to increase in popularity. These appliances are worn in the mouth, similar to a sports mouthguard or an orthodontic appliance, while you sleep. Such oral appliances hold the lower jaw slightly forward, so the airway remains open and prevents the tongue and muscles in the upper airway from blocking the airway.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends oral appliances for those with severe OSA who cannot tolerate or wear a CPAP device. Another option for people with severe OSA is combination therapy (wearing CPAP and an oral appliance together).

Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy – Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that can conform to your lifestyle. Patients generally prefer oral appliance therapy because it is:

• Comfortable
• Quiet
• Portable
• Convenient for travel
• Easy to clean and care for

Weight Loss – Around 70 percent of people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are overweight or obese. Health care professionals typically recommend for them to lose weight.

Note: In some situations, physicians may prescribe weight loss medications to overweight or obese patients with OSA.

Spa Day and Massage – Spa days or massages should already be a part of your weekly or monthly routines. They can provide you with the following benefits:

• Helps to De-Stress
• Releases Serotonin and Dopamine
• Helps With Anti-Aging
• Reduced Headaches
• Helps to Relieve Pain
• Helps to Smooth Skin
• Helps to Make Skin More Radiant
• Enhances Sleep

Note: In addition, Massages can help ease arthritis or muscle tension pain, stimulate blood flow, and boost circulation.

Disclaimer: If you experience any of the above symptoms or detect any irregularities in your sleeping habits or health, it is highly recommended that you immediately consult your primary care physician for evaluation, advice, and treatment.

Sleep Apnea

In this article, you discovered essential information about sleep apnea, its definition, symptoms, and treatment options.

Recognizing and seeking help for sleep apnea can help you live a healthier life with more restorative sleep and reduced risk of heart, lung, and other organ trouble.

Ignoring sleep apnea symptoms can lead to severe and debilitating conditions, including heart failure and even death.

Sources:
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea
sleepapnea.org/treat/sleep-apnea-treatment-options/
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-dangers-of-uncontrolled-sleep-apnea
aasm.org/oral-appliance-therapy-clinical-guideline-published-jointly-by-aasm-and-aadsm/

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Why Proper Sleep Posture Translates to a Happier Body

Your sleeping posture may be comfortable, but it could ultimately be the cause of some health issues. Improper sleep positioning has been linked to neck/back pain, poor circulation, sleep apnea, next day fatigue and even premature wrinkles. For the appropriate amount of sleep and tips to fall asleep faster, visit yourfootpalace.com/regular-sleep-promotes-healthy-minds/. For the common sleep positions and how they compare to one another, read on.

Sleeping On Your Side

Side Sleepers (Arm’s/Leg’s straight): Over 15% of adults find this position to be most comfortable. Although relatively few people sleep this way it does show to have positive benefits, notably its help for those with sleep apnea. Because the body is on its side gravity prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat passage, restricting airflow. This position has also been shown to help with acid reflux and alleviating back pain since the spine is elongated. The only downside to this is the increased likelihood of wrinkles via face to pillow contact throughout the night.

Side Sleepers (Fetal Position): By far the most popular sleep position with 41% of people favoring this pose, the benefits are fewer but the comfortability is definitely greater. This position is ideal during pregnancy (specifically lying on the left side) because it helps improve circulation in not only your body but the baby’s as well. Lying on your left side can also help relieve pressure being placed on your liver when you sleep. Although this is the most comfortable position, sleeping with your knees too tightly tucked and your chin tucked down into your chest/pillow can tighten the diaphragm, making it harder to breathe and leaving you sore in the morning. A trick to help with posture in this position is to tuck a pillow in between your knees.

Sleeping on Your Stomach

Stomach Sleepers: A majority of people find this pose to be uncomfortable and understandably so. Because you are on your stomach your neck and spine have a hard time lying flat, especially with a pillow under head, causing serious neck and back the next morning as well as trouble breathing. The upward angle of the neck constricts air flow and this is more so the case when the head is turned to either side. This angle also puts the most stress on the lower back of any sleeping position.

Sleeping on Your Back

Back Sleepers: Without a doubt, sleeping on your back allows for the greatest amount of support along the spine and neck. This support as well as spinal elongation helps to prevent upper and lower back pain as well as keeping your neck in a neutral position throughout the night. Keeping a pillow underneath the head will prevent acid reflux occurring during the night. One of the only downsides to sleeping on your back is airway blockage from your tongue. This can be a serious threat to those with sleep apnea due to the increased lack of breath. Your snoring might increase but with no face to pillow contact your likelihood of developing wrinkles earlier in life will definitely decrease.

Posture Affects Your Sleep

Although posture plays an important role in your sleep there are other factors such as your mattress and pillow type. For side sleepers placing a pillow between your legs helps to correctly align the spine. At the end of the day everyone falls asleep in the position which is most comfortable for them, but taking your health into consideration might just help you make the switch to a better night’s sleep.

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