What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea means abnormal breathing during sleep; "apnea" means "without breathing" and refers to long pauses between breaths. It is a surprisingly common sleep disorder. Because apnea usually causes a slight awakening, having this disorder robs a person of deep, continuous and refreshing sleep. It also causes drops in oxygen level in the blood, which can cause changes in blood pressure and strain on the heart and lungs. People with sleep apnea also frequently have snoring.

• Long breath pauses or struggling to breathe during sleep
• Significant daytime sleepiness
• Sensation of poor quality sleep
• Frequent awakening

Other symptoms include restlessness or movement during sleep, choking or gagging during sleep, heartburn, increased urination during the night, sweating, morning headaches, poor concentration, poor memory, irritability and depression.

What causes sleep apnea?
In obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, the patient tries to breathe but cannot because of tissue obstruction in the upper airway which is more pronounced when the patient lies down, or from muscle relaxation during deep sleep. This obstruction can be from excess tissue, and also from disproportionate anatomy in the upper airway.

Snoring is caused by vibration of excess soft tissue in the upper airway, usually the soft palate and uvula. Since both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can be caused by excess tissue, many patients have both, but again they are not always related. Both sleep apnea and snoring can be caused or worsened by sleep position; typically both are worse while sleeping on the back.

What happens to people who have sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea causes frequent interruptions in sleep pattern. The person usually does not wake up completely, and so is often unaware of the severity of the sleep disturbance. These interruptions in restful sleep cause powerful and dangerous sleepiness during the day. In addition, sleep apnea is probably linked to heart and lung problems including high blood pressure. The death rate from all causes is also higher in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

• Weight loss
• CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) These are both worn during sleep and administered through a small mask or nasal pillows attached to a pressure machine.
• Sleep position modification.
• Oral and dental appliances. These custom-made devices can help hold the jaw and tongue in a position that prevents airway obstruction.
• Surgery.