Sleep Apnea

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a very common but often underdiagnosed condition that can have a significant impact on your cardiovascular system. Essentially, your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to a blockage in the airway, which is called apnea. When this happens, you might snore loudly, choke, or gasp for air, which can wake you up briefly. These episodes can happen from just a few times per night to over 50 times per hour, all without the individual waking up fully. These obstructions can occur at multiple levels of the throat. The muscles in our neck relax when we sleep and can lead to the collapse of the soft tissues of the throat, obstructing the airway. When this happens, the body is fighting to take a breath. Instead of getting restful sleep, the body is stressing the cardiovascular system. If left untreated, moderate or severe sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure as well as severe, life-long damage to the heart.

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People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) often feel very tired during the day because their sleep is constantly disrupted. This excessive daytime sleepiness can affect your ability to concentrate, increase the risk of accidents, and impact your overall quality of life. Other common symptoms include waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat, morning headaches, and difficulty staying asleep, also known as insomnia. These symptoms can significantly affect daily functioning and overall well-being.

Several factors can increase the risk of developing Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Being overweight is a significant risk factor because excess tissue around the neck can put pressure on the airway. Additionally, having a wider circumference neck, a narrow airway, or enlarged tonsils can also contribute to sleep apnea. Men are more likely to develop OSA than women, although the risk for women increases after menopause.

The impact of sleep apnea on the cardiovascular system is profound. When breathing stops, oxygen levels in the blood drop, which can trigger a stress response in the body. This stress response causes the heart to work harder, leading to increased blood pressure. Over time, this can result in hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The repeated episodes of low oxygen levels can also lead to inflammation and damage to the blood vessels, further increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Moreover, the constant interruption of sleep can lead to a condition known as sleep fragmentation. This means that the normal sleep cycle is disrupted, preventing the individual from reaching the deeper stages of sleep that are necessary for physical and mental restoration. As a result, people with sleep apnea often wake up feeling unrefreshed, even after what seems like a full night’s sleep. This chronic sleep deprivation can have a wide range of negative effects on health, including impaired cognitive function, mood disturbances, and a weakened immune system.

Treatment for sleep apnea typically involves lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and sleeping on your side instead of your back. In more severe cases, medical interventions may be necessary. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea. This involves wearing a mask over the nose and/or mouth during sleep, which delivers a continuous stream of air to keep the airway open. Other treatment options include oral appliances that reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open, and in some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove or reduce the tissue causing the obstruction.

It’s important to recognize the symptoms of sleep apnea and seek medical advice if you suspect you may have this condition. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms such as loud snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, or difficulty staying asleep, it is important to follow up in our office to be seen. Here at Alpharetta ENT Specialists, we can conduct a thorough evaluation, which can include a sleep study, to determine if sleep apnea is present and recommend appropriate treatment options.

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Sleep Apnea

What is Sleep Apnea?

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