Sleep apnea: Symptoms, Types, and Treatment

Posted by Marry Grover on February 24th, 2023

Sleep problems have become common in people nowadays. These should be treated immediately as not getting proper rest through the night can make you tired and exhausted the following day. This can further lead to complicated health problems like coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, and other disorders. Sleep apnea is one such sleep-related issue. Those suffering from this sleep problem fail to get proper rest at night because of difficulty in breathing. People interested in finding out more about this sleep problem should read more!

What is sleep apnea?

For those wondering what is sleep apnea, it is a disorder characterized by repetitive collapse of the upper airway while resting. It occurs when your throat or mouth muscles that are responsible for supporting the soft tissues, such as the soft palate and tongue, relax too much. It makes your airway collapse and cuts off the oxygen supply. These periods when your breathing stops intermittently are called apnea or apneic episodes. 

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Those who have sleep apnea show the following symptoms:

• Loud snoring

• Snorting

• Choking

• Drowsiness

• Morning headaches

• Gasping

• Worsening depression

• Repetitive awakenings through the night

What are the types of sleep apnea?

Primarily, sleep apnea can be classified into three types. These include:

Central sleep apnea: Central sleep apnea refers to a condition where the problem is neurological. In this kind of sleep apnea, the patient does not snore. Here, the problem is caused because your brain fails to signal your nervous system to breathe consistently. Those who are suffering from this problem experience insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and wake up short of breath.

Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most common type of sleep apnea in which there is a functional obstruction in the mouth and throat. When the tongue falls against the soft palate or throat, it makes breathing difficult. OSA becomes common with age and is prevalent in males, obese people, pregnant women, and those who sleep on their backs.

Mixed sleep apnea: As the name suggests, mixed sleep apnea combines obstructive and central sleep apnea. It is difficult to identify this condition from the initial sleep study, and in many cases, it becomes apparent after the apnea does not resolve using the typical CPAP machine. The symptoms observed in people suffering from mixed sleep apnea are daytime fatigue, insomnia, confusion on getting up, and headaches.

What are the treatment methods?

People suffering from sleep apnea should seek early treatment as the condition can keep you from resting well at night. Patients are recommended to try CPAP and Bi-PAP machines to get better. Those searching for home remedies can also opt for treatments like weight loss, avoiding alcohol at night, and sleeping on the side. Besides, surgery is another option for apnea patients.

So, this is all you need to know about sleep apnea.