Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that occurs when the breathing of a person is interrupted during sleep.

Clinical types

• Central: In central sleep apnea the brain fails to send appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations.
• Obstructive: It occurs if there is obstruction in the airflow. It is the commonest type. It commonly occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses while sleeping

Signs and symptoms

• Involuntary breathing pauses
• Apneic events
• Snoring
• Choking sensations
• Breathing pauses
• Frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches
• Excessive daytime sleepiness

Tests and diagnosis

• Polysomnography
• Multiple sleep latency test

Who are at risk?

• Male gender
• Being overweight
• Over the age of 40
• Large neck size
• Large tonsils, large adenoids
• Family history of sleep apnea

 Effects of sleep apnea

 Hypertension

 Stroke

 Heart failure

 Irregular heart beats

 Heart attacks

Facts of sleep apnea

Apnea is derived from the Greek word “want of breath”.

People with sleep apnea can stop the breathing as many as 30 times or more each night.

The spouse or the family member is the first person to notice the signs of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea effects 4 percent of middle aged men and 2 percent of middle-aged women

Sleep apnea is more common in men than in women

Sleep apnea can also be found in children

Persons with sleep apnea is 3 times more prone to motor vehicle accidents

Sleep apnea often runs in family

People with sleep apnea are more prone to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke

Sleep apnea people often experience excessive day time sleeping like sleeping while talking over the phone or driving

Continuous positive airway pressure is the most common, non invasive treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea.