sleep apnoea: how common is it? how do you know if you have it?

Answer 1

In short, it is very common. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (U.S. spelling :-) , is associated with obesity. See the links below for articles with details as to associations and risks.

The best way to find out if you have it is to have someone observe you as you sleep. This is what doctors want to know (if someone has observed your apnea). Otherwise, if you snore or if you feel sleepy during the day in spite of "(perceived) adequate hours of sleep", you may have it.

Answer 2

Hi,
Sleep apnoea – this is the most common form of sleep disorder which may usually be ignored as excessive snoring. Sleep apnoea is a disorder of disrupted breathing during sleep. The throat muscles relax during deep sleep. In persons with sleep apnoea, the muscles relax so much that they cause obstruction to the windpipe making breathing difficult. In some cases, the breathing may actually stop for sometime. The patient may wake up at this time but does not remember it afterwards.

Symptoms

The symptoms of sleep apnoea include heavy snoring, drowsiness during the day due to disturbed sleep, headaches on waking up, decrease in muscle coordination and in the long run, mood changes and depression. The sleep apnoea syndrome is one of the commonest causes of excess daytime drowsiness. When the patient tends to fall asleep inappropriately eg. during conferences, while talking, while eating or while driving. If such a patient also gives a history of loud and heavy snoring and is obese in weight, clinical suspicion of sleep apnoea is very high. A sleep test called polysomnography is usually done to diagnose sleep apnoea. A polysomnograph measures eye movement, heart rate, breathing rate, brain waves and muscle tension. The test is not painful.

Sleep apnoea syndrome is diagnosed if there are at least 7 episodes of apnoea (stoppage of breathing associated with fall in blood oxygen) per hour of sleep, Sleep apnoea syndrome tends to cause Hypertension, heart disease, heart attack and strokes. Besides it may lead to accidents if patients persist in driving.
Treatment - Some changes in the sleeping position may bring about relief from the symptoms. Sleeping on the side instead of the back and reducing weight if obese may help to alleviate the condition. Many such patients also have low thyroid function and this should be looked for and corrected. In the past sleep apnoea was treated by doing a tracheostomy or making an opening in the lower part of the wind pipe so that even if the upper airway obstructs, breathing continues. Sometimes surgery was done to increase the area of the air passage. Now we believe that if air is given at high pressure into the back of the nose it will prevent the air passage being occluded. This is done by putting the patient on a machine (BIPAP), which delivers air at pressure into a mask fitted snugly on the nose. This is used each night. Patients definitely become more active after using the machine.

Lifestyle changes like regularising sleep patterns, eating lighter meals, reducing weight and taking short frequent naps during the day may help. However, a doctor’s opinion should always be sought in case such a condition is detected.

Dr.Mojo

Answer 3

Contrary to the first answer, sleep apnea doesn't really have anything to do with falling asleep, waking up, and falling asleep, although that tends to be the result of it.

Sleep apnea by definition means "not breathing while asleep". It involves the cessation of air going in and out of the lungs, either from a neurologic problem (where the brain doesn't tell the person to breathe,AKA central sleep apnea) or more commonly an obstruction in the airways that block air from getting in and out, AKA obstructive sleep apnea.

It is indeed more common in overweight people, and people with large or thick necks. What happens is when you relax during sleep, the tissue around your airway collapses from gravitation pull, and basically blocks the airway. The result is very evident:
you SNORE. Sometimes quite loudly. Also, you can stop breathing (moving air) completely, despite your respiratory muscles making efforts to do so. As a result, your oxygen levels drop, carbon dioxide levels rise, and THAT can cause disrupted sleep---waking up.

The best way to find out if you have obstructive sleep apnea is to have your doctor order a "sleep study". It's expensive...usually $12-1500, but they can determine the severity of the problem, and also what treatment you need. Often both can be accomplished in the same test, but sometimes, it requires two.

Answer 4

There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive.

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person's nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue.

Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common than central sleep apnea. In obstructive sleep apnea, the throat collapses during sleep causing the individual to snort and gasp for breath. Hundreds of these episodes can occur every night causing daytime sleepiness and, it is thought, increasing the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart problems.

If you feel that you have sleep apnea, have your doctor refer you to a sleep clinic. My doctor referred me and I ended up having obstructive sleep apnea. I sleep with a C-PAP machine and I have never slept better in my life.

I use to be tired all of the time. It's true about snoring. I use to snore at night but with the C-PAP, no more snoring.

Check it out with your doctor. It most likely will be covered under your medical insurance.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

In sleep apnea, you stop breathing, wake up, and then fall right back asleep. Most people can't tell on their own because they fall back asleep so quickly that they don't remember waking up at all. It usually has to be diagnosed in a sleep clinic. If you feel very tired despite getting enough of sleep that is one potential sign. Overweight people and people who snore are at a greater risk.

Answer 6

It's common in overweight people,have your doctor refer you to a clinic for tests.