Carolina Pulmonary & Sleep Clinic

A medical condition where the patient stops breathing or decreases the airflow significantly during sleep. This cessation or stoppage of breathing is called apnea. These episodes can occur several times throughout the night.
An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, yet up to 95% of cases go undiagnosed and untreated.
The National Commission on Sleep Disorders attributes 38,000/year cardiovascular deaths to sleep apnea.

In many cases, an apnea, or temporary pause in breathing, is caused by the tissue in the back of the throat collapsing. The muscles of the upper airway relax when you fall asleep. If you sleep on your back, gravity can cause the tongue to fall back. This narrows the airway, which reduces the amount of air that can reach your lungs. The narrowed airway causes snoring by making the tissue in back of the throat vibrate as you breathe. Sleep apnea can make you wake up in the morning feeling tired or unrefreshed even though you have had a full night of sleep. During the day, you may feel fatigued, have difficulty concentrating or you may even unintentionally fall asleep. This is because your body is waking up numerous times throughout the night, even though you might not be conscious of each awakening.

The lack of oxygen your body receives can have negative long-term consequences for your health. This includes:

High blood pressure
Heart disease
Stroke
Pre-diabetes and diabetes
Depression

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSA) is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. OSA may lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and/or abnormal heart rhythms.

Central Sleep Apnea is characterized by the cessation of breath due to a lack of effort in breathing during sleep. Central Sleep Apnea is not as common as OSA and is more difficult to diagnose. Typically it is do to neuromuscular problems but other sources could be the cause.

Signs and symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Loud, irregular snoring
Excessive tiredness
Lack of energy
Daytime sleepiness
Falling asleep while driving
Morning headaches

Weight gain
Frequent nocturnal urination
Obesity
Hypertension
Short attention span
Anxiety or depression

Risk Factors

The major risk factor for sleep apnea is excess body weight. You are much more likely to have sleep apnea if you are overweight or obese. However, sleep apnea can occur in slim people too. Common risk factors for sleep apnea include:

Excess weight – Your risk for sleep apnea is higher if you are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more or obese with a BMI of 30 or higher.
Large neck size - Your risk for sleep apnea is higher if you have a neck size of 17 inches or more for men, or 16 inches or more for women. A large neck has more soft tissue that can block your airway during sleep.
Middle age – Sleep apnea can occur at any age. However, it is more common between young adulthood and middle age.
Male gender – Sleep apnea is more common in men than in women. For women the risk of sleep apnea increases with menopause.
Hypertension – High blood pressure is extremely common in people who have sleep apnea.
Family history – Sleep apnea is a heritable condition. This means that you have a higher risk of sleep apnea if a family member also has it. Inherited traits that increase the risk for sleep apnea include obesity and physical features such as a recessed jaw. Other common family factors - such as physical activity and eating habits - also may play a role.

health tips

Don't Drink Sugar Calories
Avoid Processed Junk Food
Don't Fear Coffee
Get Enough Sleep
Eat Vegetables and Fruits