History of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea exists in different forms which include central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and mixed sleep apnea.  As a common condition of the different types of sleep apnea, the disorder is defined as a brief obstruction of air flow to the lungs which occur as multiple episodes through the course of the night.

Sleep Apnea First Documented in 1837

Sleep apnea is not a new phenomenon however if it is a new concept to you, it may help you to know the condition is recorded as far back as 1837 when Charles Dickens first made reference to the disorder when he authored “The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.”  In this writing Dickens mentioned that sleep is something everyone is familiar with however there are very few that understand it. 

Dickens’ references led to the invention of EEG which monitors the electrical activity of the brain during sleep.  At this point the different stages of sleep were recognized such as the REM stage which involves rapid eye movement and the NREM stage which means non-rapid eye movement.

Studies on Individuals in 1965-1985

Sleep apnea was first mentioned in 1837 with studies that continued well into the 1960s to mid 1980s in an effort to understand the phenomenon.  In 1965 sleep apnea was studied in great depth by Dr.Gestalt, a French doctor who went to great lengths to study sleep apnea in a variety of individuals.  Although this led to a better understanding of what happens during an apnea episode there still was no cure to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea.

By 1978, a better understanding of sleep apnea was discovered by a Harvard healthcare professional who concluded that blocked air passages are directly related to snoring and gasping during sleep.  It was determined that the multiple episodes of blocked breathing were detrimental to a person’s health and it was during this time the disorder was named ‘obstructive sleep apnea.’  This represented a significant step toward finally finding a cure to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Three years later in 1981 an Australian doctor came up with a solution for keeping air passages from collapsing during sleep.  Dr. Collin Sullivan along with a few other research specialists came up with a device to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea which is now widely known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy or CPAP in short.  The therapy involves a mask that the sleep apnea patient wears during sleep which pumps air into the windpipe during the REM phase of sleep in an effort to keep the walls of the air passages from collapsing.

The very first CPAP therapy devices were large and made a lot of noise which prevented the sleep apnea patient from actually getting a full night of restful sleep.  As the concept caught on further research was conducted to devise a way to make a smaller and quieter device that was more convenient and comfortable to wear during sleep.  As the technology advanced medical companies were able to design specialized pillows that prevent sleep apnea patients from inadvertently sleeping on their back as well as dental devices to assist with jaw problems that contribute to apnea episodes.

Current Sleep Apnea Treatment

Today, the CPAP therapy mask is one of the most common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and is now offered in many different models and types to provide the greatest comfort for a patient who suffers from sleep apnea.  Without this discovery, patients often had to resort to different surgeries that often perpetrated more complications. 

A prime example of this is patients who were required to undergo surgery which involved placing an air opening in the neck to serve as an air passage during sleep.  A small tube was inserted into the passage which allowed the patient to breathe in the event a blockage occurred in the mouth and throat area.  The surgery was known as a tracheotomy and caused much discomfort to the sleep apnea patient and often disrupted their lifestyle during the daytime hours.  This type of surgery is no longer necessary despite the fact that other types of corrective surgery are used to improve the symptoms of sleep apnea.

The sleep study has also been perfected over the years and modern technology has allowed for accurate results through the use of electrodes that monitor and record the patterns that occur during the patient’s sleep. Medical professionals can now identify the exact type of sleep apnea as well as some of the health issues that are associated with the disorder.  By being able to achieve an accurate diagnosis, focused treatments are now possible and lifestyle changes are recommended to help sleep apnea patients to cope more effectively with the disorder and live a happier and more energetic lifestyle.