What is Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder, which is defined by irregular breathing patterns during sleep.

 

People who have sleep apnea frequently have slow breathing or stops (cessations) while they are asleep. Sleepers might not fully awaken and continue to be unaware that their nocturnal breathing is abnormal, even though these gaps lead a person to wake up regularly and lower the quality of their sleep.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

The symptoms of sleep apnea include abnormal breathing during sleep and poor sleep quality that affects daytime functioning.

  • Excessive sleepiness during the day
  • Loud snoring that’s frequently interspersed with choking or gasping noises
  • Morning headaches that could last for several hours after waking up
  • Dry tongue when you wake up
  • Periods of intermittent alertness and restless sleep during the night
  • Increased urge to get out of bed to use the bathroom
  • Intolerance or frustration
  • Focus decreased
  • Brain fog

Sleep apnea is classified into many categories based on the source of breathing interruptions.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

During sleep, the airway at the back of the throat narrows or gets obstructed, causing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a medical condition.

This can cause irregular breathing and snoring, leading to waking up from airway blockage.

In some situations, people may make snorting or coughing sounds while exhaling deeply due to the contraction of their throat muscles.

The most common type of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea. It’s estimated that anywhere from 10% to 30% of adults may be affected by this condition.

Central Sleep Apnea

The communication between the brain and the muscles that govern breathing is disrupted in central sleep apnea (CSA). Breathing may thus become shallower and have brief pauses.

Compared to obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is less common. Less than 1% of the population is thought to have CSA.

Partial Blockage vs. Full Blockage

During sleep, your tongue and throat tissues relax enough to narrow your airway. Snoring, then, is the sound that is produced when air passes through this partially blocked area, causing tissues to vibrate.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition where your tongue and soft tissues actually close off your airway and stop air from entering your lungs. When this happens during sleep, the oxygen in your blood decreases, your heart races, and your brain panics – causing your body to startle awake. This cycle repeats itself all night long.

Oral appliances gently hold your lower jaw forward while you are sleeping. This forward position advances your tongue and helps open your airway to reduce snoring and alleviate OSA symptoms.

 
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