What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects your breathing while you sleep. It causes repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night, which can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen. These interruptions can happen many times an hour and often disrupt restful sleep.
What causes sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea often occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much during sleep, narrowing or blocking the airway.
Risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Having a naturally narrow airway
- Family history of sleep apnea
- Alcohol or sedative use
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
Symptoms
Sleep apnea can affect how you feel both at night and during the day. Many people don’t realize they have it until someone else notices their symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
- Loud or frequent snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Feeling very tired during the day
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
- Trouble focusing or remembering things
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosing sleep apnea usually involves monitoring your breathing while you sleep. Your provider may recommend a sleep study, which can be done in a sleep center or sometimes at home.
These tests measure airflow, oxygen levels, heart rate, and brain activity to determine whether sleep apnea is present and how severe it may be.
How is it treated?
Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are and what’s causing the condition. Many people start with simple, noninvasive options.
Common treatments include:
- Lifestyle changes like losing weight, avoiding alcohol, and adjusting sleep position
- CPAP therapy
- Oral devicesthat reposition the jaw to improve airflow
- Surgeryto correct airway issues or implantable devices that help control breathing during sleep.
With proper treatment, many people notice better sleep, improved energy, and a lower risk of serious health problems.
