Sleep Apnea (Obstructive)

 

By Mayo Clinic Staff

 

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. These muscles support the soft palate, the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils, the side walls of the throat and the tongue. When the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can't get an adequate breath in. This may lower the level of oxygen in your blood. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it.

You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour, all night long. These disruptions impair your ability to reach the desired deep, restful phases of sleep, and you'll probably feel sleepy during your waking hours.

People with obstructive sleep apnea may not be aware that their sleep was interrupted. In fact, some people with this type of sleep apnea think they sleep well all night.

 

 

 

Symptoms:

-Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)

-Loud snoring, disturbs the sleep of others or yourself

-Episodes of breathing cessation during sleep witnessed by another person

-Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat

-Morning headache

-Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)

-Excessive daytime drowsiness, which may cause you to fall asleep while you're working, watching television or even driving

-Attention problems

 

Not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. But be sure to talk to your doctor if you experience loud snoring, especially snoring that's punctuated by periods of silence.

 

 

Complications

Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition. Complications may include:

• High blood pressure or heart problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) is greater than if you don't. The more severe your sleep apnea, the greater the risk of high blood pressure. However, obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of stroke, regardless of whether or not you have high blood pressure. If there's underlying heart disease, these multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from a cardiac event. Studies also show that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and other vascular diseases. In contrast, central sleep apnea usually is the result, rather than the cause, of heart disease.

• Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings cause severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability. You may have difficulty concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching TV or even when driving. You may also feel irritable, moody or depressed.

• Complications with medications and surgery. Obstructive sleep apnea is also a concern with certain medications and general anesthesia. People with sleep apnea may be more likely to experience complications following major surgery because they're prone to breathing problems, especially when sedated and lying on their backs. Before you have surgery, tell your doctor that you have sleep apnea and how it's treated. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is especially risky in this situation.

• Liver problems. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have abnormal results on liver function tests, and their livers are more likely to show signs of scarring.

 

If you think you may have sleep apnea, please let Dr. Mudd know. She will refer you to a medical professional that specializes in sleep related illnesses.  One form of treatment that has proven successful in some cases is wearing an acrylic appliance during sleep to keep air passages open.  It's comfortable and easy to use. If the specialist recommends that you have a snore guard constructed for nightwear or an appliance to open the airway during sleep, these can be made in our office.