Frequently Asked Questions about Sleep Apnea

People who suffer from sleep apnea often are unaware that they suffer from the disorder since they do not remember waking during the course of the night. They also become accustomed to daytime drowsiness and attribute it to their work or daytime lifestyle. 

The most difficult part is that the person may not believe they suffer from sleep apnea when the possibility is brought to their attention.  Other people are not even aware of what the disorder entails.  Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions on sleep apnea to help you understand the condition before you encourage a family member to see a health care professional.

Is snoring a sign of sleep apnea?

Not necessarily.  Although snoring is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea it does not necessarily mean that the person suffers from sleep apnea.  If the person snores periodically with no apparent obstruction in breathing patterns then this does not constitute a sleep apnea condition.

On the other hand, if the person snores loudly and it is followed by a period of silence and absence of breathing this is a definite sign of sleep apnea.  The person will snore and then stop breathing for a period of seconds before they let out a loud gasp.  This starts the breathing process again before the episode repeats itself.  The person may go through multiple episodes within an hour without remembering that they were awakened by the process multiple times.

What are some of the health issues that can contribute to sleep apnea?

If the person is overweight this can be a contributing factor to sleep apnea since obesity contributes to excessive fat tissue on the walls of the air passages.  Other health issues are heart disease, hypertension, and the aging process in general, brain tumor, abnormalities in jaw structure, shape of the head and neck, and small air passages in the back of the mouth and the throat.

Is insomnia a sign of sleep apnea?

No.  Insomnia is an entirely different condition than sleep apnea and although both disorders cause you to feel tired during the day the cause and symptoms of each disorder are completely different.  Sleep apnea causes your sleep patterns to be interrupted when breathing blockage occurs where insomnia is caused by other factors which include day-to-day stress, anxiety, specific health issues and other causes.

Will weight loss cure sleep apnea?

No.  But weight loss can significantly relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea.  Because obesity promotes excess tissue in the upper air passage which causes the airway to become smaller, losing weight will improve this condition and help to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Can sleep apnea cause health problems?

Yes.  Just like existing health problems can contribute to sleep apnea the condition can also cause health problems if it is left untreated.  When sleep apnea is left untreated it can lead to high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, heart disease, and other conditions that can be triggered by interrupted sleep patterns and obstructed breathing problems.

Does smoking affect sleep apnea?

Yes.  If your family member smokes see what you can do about getting support for them to quit.  Smoking causes increased inflammation and retention of fluid in air passages which can cause sleep apnea to get worse.  For this reason, smoking can exacerbate the symptoms of an existing case of sleep apnea or cause the onset of sleep apnea.

Can children suffer from sleep apnea?

Yes.  The good news is that they generally outgrow it as they get older.  Although central sleep apnea usually involves other underlying health issues, in young children and infants it is monitored with a device that alerts the parent if and when there is an apnea episode but eventually the child outgrows the condition.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Sleep apnea is determined through a series of tests in addition to a sleep study which involves an overnight stay in a sleep center where healthcare professionals can monitor the sleep patterns of the person suffering from sleep apnea.  Convincing your family member to go for the tests and sleep study is the most difficult part since they cannot see anything wrong with their sleep habits. 

The sleep study will involve the use of electrodes and other instruments that monitor your breathing and heart rate during the night as well as other abnormalities in your sleep patterns.  The study requires the patient to arrive at bedtime so medical professionals can monitor their sleep throughout the night.  Based on the results of the study the proper treatment will be recommended for the specific type of sleep apnea that the patient exhibits during the night.