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Sleep Apnea

 

What Is Sleep Apnea?

 

Sleep apnea is a common condition that occurs when your breathing stops and restarts many times while you sleep. This can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen. If someone tells you that you snore or gasp for air during sleep, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider. You may also want to ask your provider about sleep apnea if you experience other symptoms of poor sleep quality, such as excessive daytime sleepiness.

There are three types of sleep apnea.

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is the most common type of sleep apnea. It happens when your upper airway becomes blocked many times while you sleep. The blockage can reduce or completely stop airflow. Factors such as obesity, large tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels can narrow your airway. Any of these factors could increase your risk for obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Central sleep apnea (CSA). CSA is the second most common form of sleep apnea With this type, your airway doesn't get blocked. Instead, your brain fails to tell your muscles to breathe because of issues in your respiratory control center. It's related to the function of your central nervous system. This type most often affects people with neuromuscular disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), those who've had a stroke, or those who have heart failure or other forms of heart, kidney, or lung disease.
  • Complex sleep apnea syndrome (CompSA). CompSA involves having both OSA and CSA. People with this type have a history of OSA but may then develop CSA during treatment. CompSA is considered one of six types of CSA syndromes. Treatment and management of CompSA can be complex. Diagnosis can also be challenging due to similarities in symptoms.

What is sleep apnea?

This condition is different from regular, or primary, snoring. Primary snoring may be caused by nose or throat conditions, your sleep style (especially back sleeping), being overweight or older, or using alcohol or other depressants. While both types of snoring happen when tissues in the back of your throat vibrate, people with sleep apnea tend to:

  • Snore much more loudly than those with regular snoring
  • Pause for over 10 seconds while they breathe
  • Take shallow breaths, gasp, or choke
  • Be restless during sleep

To diagnose sleep apnea, your provider may have you do a sleep study. Breathing devices, such as continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines, and lifestyle changes are common sleep apnea treatments. If these treatments do not work, your provider may recommend surgery to correct the problem that is causing your sleep apnea. If your sleep apnea is not diagnosed or treated, you may not get enough quality sleep. This can lead to issues with concentrating, making decisions, remembering things, or controlling your behavior. Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk for stroke, heart attack, and other serious problems.

 

About 50 to 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder.

 

 

Symptoms

 

While asleep, you may have these symptoms of sleep apnea:

  • Breathing that starts and stops
  • Frequent loud snoring (more common in men)
  • Gasping for air
  • Restlessness while sleeping, or often waking up at night

You may not know you have these symptoms until someone tells you. Or you may notice the following symptoms yourself:

  • Daytime sleepiness and tiredness, which can lead to problems with learning, focusing, and reacting
  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue (more common in women)
  • Headache (more common in women)
  • Insomnia (more common in women)
  • Sexual dysfunction or decreased libido
  • Waking up often during the night to urinate

Children who have sleep apnea may be overactive and may experience bedwetting, worsening asthma, and trouble paying attention in school. Visit Sleep Apnea in Children to learn more.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms. You may need a sleep study to help diagnose the condition.

 

 

Diagnosis

 

Health History and Physical Exam

An evaluation for sleep apnea typically starts with a review of a person’s symptoms and overall health, as well as a physical exam. This is designed to detect signs of sleep apnea and identify risk factors that could contribute to the condition.

Although testing is required to confirm that someone has OSA, the presence of symptoms can factor into the diagnosis and help determine the severity of the condition.

 

Sleep study, also called polysomnography.

A sleep study records brain waves, oxygen levels in the blood, and heart rate and breathing during sleep. It also measures eye and leg movements. A sleep study may be done at a sleep disorders unit within a hospital or at a sleep center. When you have testing for sleep apnea, a diagnosis may be made during the first half of the night, while data from the rest of the night is used to decide on the best settings for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Sometimes the test is done over two different nights.

 

Home testing.

Your health care provider might provide you with simplified tests to be used at home to diagnose sleep apnea. These tests usually measure your heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns. Your provider is more likely to recommend polysomnography in a sleep testing facility, rather than a home sleep test, if central sleep apnea is suspected.

If the results aren't typical, your provider might be able to prescribe a therapy without further testing. Portable monitoring devices sometimes miss sleep apnea. So your health care provider might still recommend polysomnography even if your first results are within the standard range.

 

Sleep diary.

A sleep diary can help you track how long and how well you sleep, as well as how sleepy you feel during the day. These details can help your provider diagnose your condition.

 

Actigraphy. 

A small monitor, usually worn on the wrist, measures arm and leg movement during sleep. Worn for several days to weeks, the monitor gives information about sleep-wake cycles over time. The test also can show if treatment for a sleep disorder is working.

 

Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). 

This test measures daytime sleepiness. During the test, you have time in a quiet, dark room. You can take 4 to 5 naps, each spaced two hours apart. The MSLT measures the time it takes to fall asleep each time.

 

Maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT). 

This test measures daytime alertness. During the test, you have time in a quiet, dark room. Like the MSLT, you can take 4 to 5 naps spaced two hours apart. Unlike the MSLT, the MWT measures your ability to stay awake during this time.

 

Upper airway nerve stimulation therapy evaluation. 

This may involve several tests that help decide if a small device surgically placed inside the body is the right treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.

 

Overnight oximetry test. 

Using a small monitor that attaches to a finger, this test measures heart rate and oxygen levels in the blood throughout the night. Drops in oxygen levels while sleeping may happen with sleep apnea.

 

Tests to look for other medical conditions.

Your provider may order additional tests to check for other medical conditions that can cause sleep apnea. For example, they may order blood tests to determine your thyroid hormone levels or check for  polycystic ovary syndrome   (PCOS).

Your provider will also ask if you are using medicines, such as opioids, that could affect your sleep or cause breathing symptoms related to sleep apnea. They may also ask whether you have recently traveled to altitudes greater than 6,000 feet. Low oxygen environments can cause sleep apnea symptoms for a few weeks after traveling.

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your health care provider might refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist to rule out a blockage in your nose or throat. An evaluation by a heart specialist, known as a cardiologist, or a doctor who specializes in the nervous system, called a neurologist, might be necessary to look for causes of central sleep apnea.

 

 

 

Causes and Risk Factors


What causes sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by conditions that block airflow through your upper airway during sleep. For example, your tongue may fall backward and block your airway.

Central sleep apnea is caused by problems with the way your brain controls your breathing while you sleep.

Your age, family history, lifestyle habits, other medical conditions, and some features of your body (for example, your neck or tongue) can raise your risk for sleep apnea. But healthy lifestyle changes can help lower your risk.

What raises the risk of obstructive sleep apnea?

Many conditions can cause obstructive sleep apnea. Some factors, such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, can be changed. Other factors, such as age and family history, cannot be changed.

  • Age: Sleep apnea can occur at any age, but your risk increases as you get older. As you age, fatty tissue can build up in your neck and tongue. Sleep apnea occurs significantly more often in older adults.
  • Obesity: Obesity greatly increases the risk of OSA. Fat deposits around your upper airway can obstruct your breathing. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent or treat sleep apnea caused by obesity.
  • Large tonsils, neck, or tongue: These features can narrow your upper airway or make it more likely for your tongue to block your airway while you sleep. You might have inherited a narrow throat. Tonsils or adenoids also can enlarge and block the airway, particularly in children. People with thicker necks might have narrower airways.
  • Endocrine disorders or changes in your hormone levels: Your hormone levels can affect the size and shape of your face, tongue, and upper airway. People who have  polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), low levels of  thyroid hormones  , or high levels of insulin or growth hormone have a higher risk for sleep apnea.
  • Family history and genetics: Sleep apnea can be inherited. Your genes help determine the size and shape of your skull, face, and upper airway. Your genes can also raise your risk for other health conditions, such as cleft lip and cleft palate and Down syndrome, which can lead to sleep apnea. Having family members with sleep apnea might increase your risk.
  • Heart or kidney failure: These conditions can cause fluid to build up in your neck, which can block your upper airway.
  • Lifestyle habits: Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea. Smokers are three times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than are people who've never smoked. Smoking can increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway.
  • Sex: Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to have sleep apnea than are women. However, women increase their risk if they're overweight or if they've gone through menopause.
  • Medical conditions: Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are some of the conditions that may increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal disorders, prior stroke and chronic lung diseases such as asthma also can increase risk.
  • Nasal congestion: If you have trouble breathing through your nose — whether from an anatomical problem or allergies — you're more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.

What raises the risk of central sleep apnea?

The primary risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea are related to age, sex, body weight, and certain anatomical features of the head and neck area.

  • Age: The risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea increases with age until a person is in their 60s and 70s.
  • Sex: Men or people assigned male at birth are generally more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea, especially in the earlier stages of adulthood.
  • Head and neck anatomy: Obstructive sleep apnea occurs more frequently in people who have specific anatomical features including a larger tongue and a shorter lower jaw.
  • Body weight: Multiple studies have found a correlation between a higher body mass index (BMI) and an elevated risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea.

Studies have identified associations between various other factors and an increased likelihood of having OSA, but further research is needed to clarify their effect on the development of OSA.

  • Cigarette smoking: Some research has found a noticeably higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea in people who smoke cigarettes compared to people who have quit or never smoked. Smokers are three times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than are people who've never smoked. Smoking can increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway.
  • Hormone abnormalities: Hormone conditions like an underactive thyroid or excess production of growth hormone may increase the risk of OSA by causing swelling of tissue near the airway or by contributing to a higher body mass index.
  • Sleeping position: Sleep apnea may develop or be worsened when people sleep on their back because of how that sleeping position affects the shape and positioning of the tissue around the airway.
  • Family history of sleep apnea: There are some indications that a family history of OSA can increase a person’s risk of obstructive sleep apnea, which may relate to anatomical features in the head and neck that are shared among family members.
  • Nasal congestion: If you have trouble breathing through your nose — whether from an anatomical problem or allergies — you're more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Using alcohol and some medications: Alcohol and some prescription and narcotic drugs are associated with an elevated risk of obstructive sleep apnea. These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Certain medical conditions: Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are some of the conditions that may increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Polycystic ovary syndrome, hormonal disorders, prior stroke and chronic lung diseases such as asthma also can increase risk.

 

Treatment

 

For milder cases of sleep apnea, your health care provider may recommend only lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. You may need to change the position in which you sleep. If you have nasal allergies, your provider may recommend treatment for your allergies.

If these measures don't improve your symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments are available.

Certain devices can help open a blocked airway. In other cases, surgery might be necessary.

Healthy lifestyle changes

To help treat your sleep apnea, healthy lifestyle changes can be very effective. These include getting regular physical activity, maintaining healthy sleeping habits and a healthy weight, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and quitting smoking. Your provider may also recommend that you sleep on your side — not on your back — as this can help keep your airway open while you sleep.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

This is the standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. You use a CPAP machine to treat obstructive sleep apnea whenever you're sleeping. The machine has a hose that connects to a mask. You wear the mask over your face or nose. The machine provides airflow at a pressure that holds your airway open during sleep.

A type of CPAP called bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) may be used in obstructive sleep apnea for people who can't tolerate CPAP. BPAP also may be used to help breathing in people who have conditions that keep their breathing muscles from working as they should.

  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The best-known type of device, this machine blows air into your airways through a mask that covers your nose and mouth. This keeps your upper airway passages open.
  • Bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP or BiPAP). While CPAP machines use the same level of air pressure for inhalation and exhalation, this type uses greater force as you inhale. This works better for some people.
  • Auto-positive airway pressure machine (auto-pap or APAP). This automatically adjusts the air pressure while you sleep to respond to changes in your breathing. For example, it may help if you only need help breathing while you're in certain sleep positions or during certain stages of sleep.
  • Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV). This computerized device "learns" your breath pattern, then customizes its air pressure levels to normalize your breathing. ASV seems to be more effective for complex sleep apnea treatment than other forms of positive airway pressure. But it may not be a good fit for those with central sleep apnea and advanced heart failure.

CPAP machines often work best when they are paired with healthy lifestyle changes.

Side effects may include congestion, dry eyes or mouth, nosebleeds, or a runny nose. If you experience stomach discomfort or bloating, you should stop using your CPAP machine and contact your healthcare provider.

Living With Sleep Apnea has information about what to do if you have problems or side effects from your CPAP device.

Medicines

The FDA recently approved a weight loss medicine for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea and obesity. This medicine is injected under the skin. If you receive this treatment, your healthcare provider will also recommend physical activity and a healthy eating plan. The medicine may cause serious side effects in some cases. Tell your provider if you have a personal or family history of depression, thyroid tumors  , kidney disease, or diabetic retinopathy.

Oral appliances.

Appliances worn in the mouth, known as oral appliances, may be an option instead of CPAP. These are custom-made mouthpieces that are used during sleep. The goal is to lessen airflow blockage in the throat area by pushing the lower jaw and tongue forward.

There are two types of oral devices.

  • Mandibular repositioning mouthpieces cover the upper and lower teeth and hold the lower jaw in place. They prevent the jaw from sliding backward and blocking the upper airway.
  • Tongue-retaining devices are mouthpieces that hold the tongue in a forward position to prevent it from blocking the upper airway.

Another type of device is used while you are awake.

  • Removable tongue muscle stimulators are mouthpieces that stimulate and tone the tongue. These are typically used once a day while you are awake. They can help prevent your tongue from falling backward and blocking the airway during sleep.

Therapy for your mouth and facial muscles

Exercises for your mouth and facial muscles, called orofacial therapy, may also be an effective treatment for sleep apnea in children and adults. This therapy helps to strengthen and reposition the tongue and muscles that control your lips, tongue, upper airway, and face.

Surgical procedures.

Another option instead of CPAP is surgery. There are different surgical options designed to lessen airflow blockage during sleep. These include surgeries on the nose or jaws and surgeries to reduce upper airway soft tissue.

A newer surgical option for obstructive sleep apnea is upper airway nerve stimulation therapy. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has approved an upper airway nerve stimulation system called Inspire to treat obstructive sleep apnea in some people if CPAP therapy doesn't work.

Surgery is needed to place the Inspire system. A small device called a generator is placed under the skin on the upper chest. When the breathing muscles don't move, the device sends a pulse to the nerve under the tongue. This causes the tongue to move forward, opening the airway.

Surgical options for sleep apnea include:

  • Nerve stimulation. This requires surgery to insert a stimulator for the nerve that controls tongue movement (hypoglossal nerve). The increased stimulation helps keep the tongue in a position that keeps the airway open. More research is needed.
  • Tissue shrinkage. Another option is to shrink the tissue at the rear of the mouth and the back of the throat using radiofrequency ablation. This procedure might be used for mild to moderate sleep apnea. One study found this to have effects similar to that of tissue removal, but with fewer surgical risks.
  • Jaw repositioning. In this procedure, the jaw is moved forward from the remainder of the face bones. This enlarges the space behind the tongue and soft palate, making obstruction less likely. This procedure is known as maxillomandibular advancement.
  • Implants. Soft rods, usually made of polyester or plastic, are surgically implanted into the soft palate after numbing with a local anesthetic. More research is needed to determine how well implants work.
  • Tracheostomy. You may need this form of surgery if other treatments have failed and you have severe, life-threatening sleep apnea. In this procedure, your surgeon makes an opening in your neck and inserts a metal or plastic tube through which you breathe.

    You keep the opening covered during the day. But at night you uncover it to allow air to pass in and out of your lungs, bypassing the blocked air passage in your throat.

Other types of surgery may help reduce snoring and contribute to the treatment of sleep apnea by clearing or enlarging air passages:

  • Surgery to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
  • Weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery.

Therapies for CSA

  • Treatment for associated medical problems. Possible causes of central sleep apnea include heart or neuromuscular disorders, and treating those conditions might help. Other therapies that may be used for CSA include supplemental oxygen, CPAP, BPAP, and adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV).
  • Medicine changes. You may be prescribed medicine to help manage your breathing, such as acetazolamide. If medicines are worsening your CSA, such as opioids, your health care provider may change your medicines.
  • Supplemental oxygen. Using supplemental oxygen while you sleep might help if you have central sleep apnea. Various forms of oxygen are available with devices to deliver oxygen to your lungs.

  • Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV). This more recently approved airflow device learns your typical breathing pattern and stores the information in a built-in computer. After you fall asleep, the machine uses pressure to regulate your breathing pattern and prevent pauses in your breathing.

    ASV may be an option for some people with treatment-emergent central sleep apnea. However, it might not be a good choice for people with predominant central sleep apnea and advanced heart failure. And ASV is not recommended for those with severe heart failure.

 

Complications of Sleep Apnea

 

Effective treatment can generally prevent or resolve serious complications from sleep apnea, but if the condition is left untreated, it can have far-reaching effects on health and well-being.

Sleep apnea reduces sleep quality, and the effects of poor sleep are compounded by how sleep apnea affects oxygen levels in the body.

Accordingly, obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with a higher risk of a diverse range of health problems, including:

  • Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea make typical, restorative sleep impossible, in turn making severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability likely.

    You might have trouble concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching TV or even when driving. People with sleep apnea have an increased risk of motor vehicle and workplace accidents.

    You might also feel quick-tempered, moody or depressed. Children and adolescents with sleep apnea might perform poorly in school or have behavior problems.
  • Type 2 diabetes. Having sleep apnea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
  • High blood pressure or heart problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during OSA increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. Having OSA increases your risk of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

    OSA might also increase your risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you have heart disease, multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.
  • Metabolic syndrome. This disorder, which includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and an increased waist circumference, is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.
  • Complications with medicines and surgery. Obstructive sleep apnea is also a concern with certain medicines and general anesthesia. People with sleep apnea might be more likely to have complications after major surgery because they're prone to breathing problems, especially when sedated and lying on their backs.

    Before you have surgery, tell your doctor about your sleep apnea and how it's being treated.
  • Liver problems. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have irregular results on liver function tests, and their livers are more likely to show signs of scarring, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • Sleep-deprived partners. Loud snoring can keep anyone who sleeps nearby from getting good rest. It's common for a partner to have to go to another room, or even to another floor of the house, to be able to sleep.

Complications of CSA can include:

  • Fatigue. The repeated awakening associated with sleep apnea makes typical, restorative sleep impossible. People with central sleep apnea often have severe fatigue, daytime drowsiness and irritability.

    You might have difficulty concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching television or even while driving.
  • Cardiovascular problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during central sleep apnea can adversely affect heart health.

    If there's underlying heart disease, these repeated multiple episodes of low blood oxygen — known as hypoxia or hypoxemia — worsen prognosis and increase the risk of irregular heart rhythms.

 

In central sleep apnea, the complications that can occur depend largely on the underlying medical issue causing breathing to be disordered.

 

Sleep Apnea in Children

 

Although frequently associated with older adults, sleep apnea can occur in children. In young people, obstructive sleep apnea is much more common than central sleep apnea. It is estimated that 1% to 5% of children have obstructive sleep apnea.

Children with OSA may not experience excessive daytime sleepiness as seen in adults with sleep apnea. Instead, they may exhibit daytime symptoms like hyperactivity, learning difficulties, or behavior problems.

As in adults, snoring is common for children with obstructive sleep apnea. However, children may have other nighttime symptoms like sweating, bedwetting, or sleepwalking. Children with severe untreated OSA may also experience problems with their growth and development.

For many children, obstructive sleep apnea is caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids in the throat, and surgery to remove these tissues may be an option for treatment.


 

Living with sleep apnea

 

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you will need to schedule regular checkups to make sure that your treatment is working. You may need to repeat your sleep study during this period, especially if you gain or lose a lot of weight.

How sleep apnea affects your health

Untreated sleep apnea prevents you from getting enough rest, which can cause problems with concentrating, remembering things, making decisions, or controlling your behavior.

Sleep apnea affects many parts of your body. It can cause low oxygen levels during sleep and prevent you from getting enough quality sleep. Also, it takes a lot of effort to restart breathing many times during sleep, and this can damage your organs and blood vessels.

These factors may raise your risk for the following conditions:

Using and maintaining your PAP machine

It is important to use your PAP machine for all sleep, including naps. If you are traveling, bring your breathing device with you. Be patient, as it may take time to adjust to breathing with the help of a PAP machine.

  • Adjust the mask every night while lying down with the machine on to ensure it fits properly.
  • Wear your mask for part of the day, such as while watching TV, to get used to how it feels.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of the following problems:

  • You feel claustrophobic or are bothered by the noise. Your provider can suggest a different type of mask or PAP machine. They may also adjust the settings, such as having the machine ramp up over time while you fall asleep.
  • Your mask does not stay on or fit well, or it leaks air.
  • You have difficulty falling or staying asleep.
  • You have dry mouth or a stuffy or runny nose. Your provider may recommend a humidifier or nasal spray.

Your provider may ask you to try different masks or nasal pillows, types of PAP machines, or machine pressure and timing settings.

It is also important to take proper care of your PAP machine:

  • Clean your mask and wash your face before you put on the mask. This can help make a better seal between the mask and your skin. You may need to try a different breathing device that has a humidifier chamber or provides bi-level or auto-adjusting pressure settings.
  • Know how to set up and properly clean all parts of your machine. Be sure to refill prescriptions on time for all of the device's parts that need to be replaced regularly, including the tubes, masks, and air filters.

Your healthcare provider, and possibly your insurance provider, may check the data from your PAP machine. This data shows how often you use your device and whether it is working properly. Your insurance provider may use the data to determine whether they will cover the device.

Using and caring for your oral device

If you are using an oral device, you may need to see your dentist after 6 months and then every year. Your dentist will check whether the device is working correctly and whether it needs to be adjusted or replaced.

Ask your dentist how to properly care for your oral device. If it does not fit right or your symptoms do not improve, let your dentist know. It is common to feel some discomfort after a device is adjusted until your mouth and facial muscles get used to the new fit.

 

Information to help you stay safe

 

Sleep apnea can raise your risk for complications if you are having surgery, and it can affect your ability to drive well.

  • If you need medicine to make you sleep during surgery, or pain medicine after surgery, tell your healthcare provider that you have sleep apnea. Your provider may have to take extra steps to make sure that your airway stays open during the surgery and that the pain medicine doesn't make it harder for your airway to stay open.
  • Untreated sleep apnea can make you sleepy during the day and make it difficult for you to pay attention and make decisions while you drive. This can cause road accidents. Pay attention to your symptoms and do not drive if you feel tired or sleepy.

 

Lifestyle and home remedies

 

In some cases, self-care might be a way for you to deal with obstructive sleep apnea and possibly central sleep apnea. Try these tips:

  • Lose excess weight. Even a slight weight loss might help relieve constriction of your throat. In some cases, sleep apnea can resolve if you return to a healthy weight, but it can recur if you regain the weight.
  • Exercise. Regular exercise can help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk, most days of the week.
  • Avoid alcohol and certain medicines such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. These relax the muscles in the back of your throat, interfering with breathing.
  • Sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back. Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and soft palate to rest against the back of your throat and block your airway. To keep from rolling onto your back while you sleep, try attaching a tennis ball to the back of your pajama top. There are also commercial devices that vibrate when you roll onto your back in sleep.
  • Don't smoke. If you're a smoker, look for resources to help you quit.

 

Preparing for your appointment

 

If you or your partner suspects that you have sleep apnea, contact your primary care provider. In some cases, you might be referred immediately to a sleep specialist.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as modify your diet or keep a sleep diary.

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including family history of a sleep disorder.
  • All medicines, vitamins or supplements you take, including doses.
  • Questions to ask your doctor.

Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you receive. Because your bed partner might be more aware of your symptoms than you are, it may help to have your partner along.

For sleep apnea, some questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need? Do these tests require special preparation?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or long lasting?
  • What treatments are available?
  • Which treatment do you think would be best for me?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
  • Should I see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions, including:

  • Have your symptoms been continuous, or do they come and go?
  • How severe are your symptoms?
  • How does your partner describe your symptoms?
  • Do you know if you stop breathing during sleep? If so, how many times a night?
  • Is there anything that has helped your symptoms?
  • Does anything make your symptoms worse, such as sleep position or alcohol consumption?

What you can do in the meantime

  • Try to sleep on your side.
  • Avoid alcohol for 4 to 6 hours before bed.
  • Don't take drugs that make you sleepy.
  • If you're drowsy, avoid driving.

 

Sleep Apnea FAQs

 

How do you fix sleep apnea?

The treatment for sleep apnea depends on which type you have and how serious it is. For mild sleep apnea, it may be enough to lose weight, stop smoking, or treat respiratory allergies. The most common treatment is a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine, which blows air into your airways through a mask while you sleep. In some cases, your doctor may recommend medications or surgery.   

What happens if sleep apnea goes untreated?

If you don't get treatment for sleep apnea, you'll probably sleep poorly. You'll keep waking up briefly during the night and won't spend enough time in the deep stages of sleep. This can lead to daytime sleepiness, mood changes, and trouble concentrating. In the long term, untreated sleep apnea raises your risk for serious health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.   

Can sleep apnea go away?

There's no cure for sleep apnea. But your symptoms can improve or even go away with proper treatment. Your doctor can help determine the best treatment for you, whether it's lifestyle changes like weight loss, a PAP machine, or surgery.

Can sleep apnea kill you?

Sleep apnea can pose both short- and long-term risks that may potentially be fatal. Examples include motor vehicle accidents, heart failure, and stroke.

Can sleep apnea be cured?

There are multiple treatment options and lifestyle strategies that can help improve sleep apnea. In theory, treating sleep apnea can also decrease daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

 

Takeaways

 

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which you briefly stop breathing while you sleep, causing you to repeatedly wake up during the night. This keeps you from getting enough sleep and raises your risk for several serious health conditions. The right treatment can reduce or get rid of your symptoms and protect your health. 

Sleep apnea involves disruptions in your breathing while you sleep, which can lead to both short-term problems and long-term health complications. Typically, sleep apnea is treated with CPAP, though a doctor may also consider other options, depending on the type and severity of your sleep apnea.

Because sleep apnea can be dangerous when left untreated, it’s important to speak with a doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms such as frequent waking at night, loud snoring, and daytime sleepiness.

 

 


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Most recent revision April 21, 2025 06:40:06 PM