Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
“Apnea” comes from the Greek words for “no breath”. Sleep apnea, therefore, is a condition when breathing is reduced while sleeping, resulting in the body having to wake briefly to restore respiration.
Types of sleep apnea
There are essentially three types of sleep apnea.
Far and away the most common type, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when airway muscles relax during sleep and block off the airway. While anyone can develop obstructive sleep apnea, it is more likely to develop as the person ages. For those younger than fifty, it is more common in men, boys, and those designated as male at birth; it is more likely to occur in people of African-American, Hispanic, or Asian descent; and it is far more likely to be found in those who are overweight.
- central sleep apnea
Far less common is central sleep apnea, which happens when the brain fails to tell the muscles to breathe. This is usually the result of an injury, an event like a stroke, or the use of opioids for pain management. It has been estimated to occur only in 1% of the American population.
- Complex sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea
Sleep apnea should be taken seriously, as it can have several detrimental effects on a sufferer’s overall health and well-being.
Sleep apnea: poor sleep
Although the waking from sleep apnea usually only lasts for a few seconds at most, and may not result in complete consciousness, it is very disruptive to sleep. In fact, sleep apnea can bring about the same consequences of sleep deprivation, even when 7 hours of sleep or more are gotten.
Sleep deprivation, in turn, can cause:
- Fatigue, exhaustion, and a feeling of sleepiness
- Reduced ability to concentrate
- Increased forgetfulness
- Increased tendency to mood swings, especially towards irritation and frustration
- Heightened anxiety
- Reduced motivation
- Increased chance to come down with cold
Sleep deprivation can therefore lead to a number of outcomes, all unpleasant. These can range from the mildly distressing (falling asleep during a movie, inability to remember a password, snapping at a loved one) to the downright dangerous (falling asleep while driving, forgetting to take medicine). Since sleep apnea contributes to sleep deprivation, it is worth paying attention to it.
Other health consequences
Sleep apnea can also have serious health consequences beyond those associated with sleep deprivation. As was mentioned, inadequate sleep is also tied to forgetfulness, which can lead to inadvertently skipping medications and making any health condition potentially much worse. It can also reduce motivation to exercise.
In addition, sleep apnea can bring about a condition called hypoxia, which is a reduced amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Hypoxia is indicated in the worsening of several potentially life-threatening conditions, such as:
Diabetes
For people with diabetes, sleep apnea can make managing that condition much more challenging. This is largely because hypoxia brought about by sleep apnea can make adipose more resistant to insulin and this to a subsequent intolerance for glucose. This, in turn, can result in ketoacidosis, which usually requires hospitalization.
Moreover, the cognitive effects of the poor sleep that comes from sleep apnea can have indirect effects on managing diabetes. As mentioned, inadequate sleep reduces motivation to exercise or, importantly, to plan meals; it also leads to poor decision making, increasing the likelihood that junk food may be sought instead of healthier options.
Cancer
Studies published in the last few years indicate that sleep apnea also carries with it an increased risk – up to 30% higher – for certain kinds of cancer, and to increased tumor growth for cancer already present. It is believed that hypoxia is largely responsible for both.
High Blood Pressure
Doctors have long noted the increased risk of hypertension in those with sleep apnea. Once again, the culprit appears to be hypoxia: since oxygen is carried in the blood, lack of air sends a signal to the brain that blood needs to be circulated at a greater rate. This causes increased blood pressure, and the elevated pressure may persist in waking hours.
In addition, sleep apnea can lead to other milder but nevertheless significant conditions, such as:
Morning headaches
Though the precise cause of these is not known, many with sleep apnea report headaches upon waking.
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
People who have sleep apnea (especially obstructive sleep apnea) are also much more prone to teeth-grinding; as many as 55% of those with sleep apnea will also grind their teeth. Scientists are uncertain whether this is simply a correlation, or whether the one causes the other. However, at least one theory is that the arousal from sleep to restore breathing may cause jaw movement and grinding.
Since bruxism is a well-known source of headaches, it may be that teeth-grinding cause this effect in those with sleep apnea.
Diagnosing and treating sleep apnea
Diagnosis of sleep apnea usually begins with a visit to a physician, who will recommend a sleep study. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, a variety of methods may be used to treat the condition: lifestyle changes, an oral appliance, a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, and surgery are all potential treatment options.
It is very much on one’s self-interest to be tested in sleep apnea is suspected, and to seek treatment for it if confirmed. The improvement of health and quality of life will greatly repay the effort.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing
Chronic fatigue is unhealthy as it increases the risk of accidents and chronic inflammation throughout the body. Contact our office by calling (517) 940-8684 or visit us online to schedule an appointment.