Sleep Apnea: Types, Causes, Effects, And Treatment

Posted by Alex Stark on December 13th, 2022

Sleep apnea, or sleep apnea, is a type of sleep disorder. It is characterized by frequent shallow breathing or breathing pauses while you're asleep. There are several pauses throughout the night, ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes.

Sleep apnea usually comes after a very loud snore. As breathing begins to return, there can be a choking or snorting sound. People with the disease may feel weary or sleepy during the day since it interferes with natural sleep. It affects men, women, and children and may result in hyperactivity or academic issues in kids.

Do you want to learn more about sleep apnea? Do you want to know its types, causes, effects, and treatment? Read on to find out more.

Types Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is of 3 types. These types vary in cause and severity. These types are:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is the most prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder that occurs when the throat muscles are relaxed.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is defined by recurring episodes of whole or partial blockage of the upper airway, which results in diminished or absent breathing during sleep. These events are classified as "apneas" when breathing entirely or nearly entirely stops or as "hypopneas" when breathing is just partially reduced.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) or central sleep apnea syndrome (CSAS) occurs when the brain doesn't correctly send signals to the muscles in control of breathing. There is a reduction in breathing attempts, or breathing is totally absent, often for 10 to 30 seconds, either sporadically or in cycles. There is an accompanying decline in blood oxygen saturation. Usually, the body's feedback systems that regulate breathing are unstable, which causes CSA.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Complex sleep apnea syndrome, sometimes referred to as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, happens when a person has both central and obstructive sleep apnea.

Causes Of Sleep Apnea?

There are numerous causes of sleep apnea. Some of these include:

• Excess weight or obesity

• Genetic conditions

• Low blood oxygen levels

• Nervous system conditions

• Heart failure

Ways To Treat Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can be treated in two ways – Medically and Non-medically

The Non-Medical Method

The non-medical method of treating sleep apnea is a change in lifestyle. Changes in lifestyle may include weight loss, regular exercise, cutting back on the number of cigarettes and quantity of alcohol intake, use of allergy medications, etc.

Medical method

There are two main sleep apnea medical treatment methods. These include

Therapy

Using therapy for curing sleep apnea happens when lifestyle changes do not work. Several therapeutical devices are used to cure sleep apnea. These devices are:

Positive airway pressure

The most popular kind is CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. When receiving this treatment, the upper airways are kept open by the constant, steady, and slightly elevated pressure of the air you breathe. This reduces snoring, and this air pressure avoids obstructive sleep apnea.

Mouthpiece (oral device)

These tools are made to maintain an open neck. Some oral gadgets prevent snoring and obstructive sleep apnea by moving your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open. Other devices place your tongue differently.

Oral appliances for sleep apnea offer an option for some persons with mild or severe obstructive sleep apnea, even though positive airway pressure is frequently a successful therapy. It is also utilized by those who cannot use CPAP due to severe sleep apnea.

Surgery

Surgery is the last option, and it is used when therapies do not cure sleep apnea. These surgery options include:

• Surgical removal of tissue

• Jaw surgery

• Surgical opening in the neck

• Upper airway stimulation

Conclusion

While lifestyle changes may be enough to cure sleep apnea, in some severe cases, medical therapy or surgery may be used to cure sleep apnea: this is dependent on the severity of the case.