Sleep Issues

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. These interruptions, known as apneas, can last from a few seconds to minutes and may occur 30 times or more an hour. There are three main types of sleep apnea:

  • 1 Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): The most common form, where the airway becomes physically blocked, often by the collapse of soft tissue in the throat, which prevents air from reaching the lungs.
  • 2 Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Unlike OSA, central sleep apnea is not caused by a physical blockage. Instead, the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. This type is less common and can be associated with other medical conditions, especially those that affect the ability to regulate breathing.
  • 3 Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, this condition occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Symptoms

Symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation during sleep witnessed by another person, abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat, morning headache, difficulty staying asleep (insomnia), excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), attention problems, and irritability.

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can lead to various health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue, and more, if left untreated. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition and the type of sleep apnea diagnosed but may include lifestyle changes, breathing devices like CPAP machines, oral appliances, and sometimes surgery.

Proper/early diagnosis is so critical, we are recommending that everyone should have a home sleep test (HST) at their next “physical” exam/work-up with their physician!

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