General Information About Sleep Apnea
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the disease where the muscles and soft tissues in the throat (uvula, tonsils, palate) excessively relax and sag while a person is asleep at night, completely blocking the trachea and causing breathing to STOP for more than 10 seconds (sometimes for minutes).
No. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea (Simple snoring only makes noise, it doesn't stop breathing). However, almost everyone with Sleep Apnea snores SEVERELY. Their spouses (partners) describe the situation like this: 'While snoring, his voice suddenly cuts off, his chest goes up and down but he can't breathe, he turns purple as if he's going to die, and then he takes a deep breath with a terrible wheeze (explosion) and starts sleeping again.'
Obesity (Extreme Overweight) is the number one cause of sleep apnea. Fat accumulated in the neck area presses down on the trachea like a weight (vise) when lying down and narrows the passage. Additionally, being male (twice as common as in women), having a thick and short neck structure, having a recessed lower jaw, and using alcohol/cigarettes/sedative drugs relax the muscles and block the pathway.
Every time breathing stops, the oxygen level in the blood drops from the 90s to the 70s (fatal limits). The brain panics and commands the heart to 'Pump adrenaline, we are dying!'. The heart works like crazy during the hours it is supposed to be resting, and blood pressure spikes. Within 5-10 years, this chronic cycle leads to Heart Enlargement, High Blood Pressure, Arrhythmia, Stroke, and Death from Sudden Heart Attack during Sleep at night.
Even if the patient sleeps for 10 hours at night, the brain never goes into deep sleep (REM) (due to waking up to breathe). Therefore, they wake up tired in the morning as if they were beaten, and suffer from severe headaches. During the day, they fall asleep at the wheel while watching TV, in meetings, and most dangerously, even while waiting at a red light. (Sleep apnea is the hidden cause of a large portion of traffic accidents).
The definitive diagnosis is made in a Sleep Laboratory (Polysomnography - PSG). The patient is put to sleep in the hospital for 1 night; the number of times breathing stops per hour is measured with cables attached to their head, chest, and finger. If it stops more than 15 times an hour, it is moderate/severe apnea.
The Gold Standard Treatment is: CPAP / BiPAP (Pressurized Air) Devices. The patient wears a small mask over their nose while sleeping at night. This silent machine takes the air in the room and blows it into the nose under pressure (creating an air tent/balloon inside) keeping the throat open all night long. The first night the patient wears the device, they sleep soundly and wake up energetic like being born again in the morning. Additionally, losing weight improves apnea by 50%.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
