A. Normal
Breathing *Airway is open *Air flows freely to lungs
B. Obstructive
Sleep Apnea *Airway collapses *Blocked air flow
C. CPAP Therapy *Airway splinted open *Air flows freely to lungs
Sleep Apnea,
a common, potentially dangerous condition, is often associated
with loud, frequent snoring. Sleep apnea can affect persons
of any age or gender, but it is most common among overweight
persons, middle aged men, and those older than 50 years. Persons
with this disorder stop breathing for as long as 2 minutes while
asleep.
There are different kinds of sleep apnea, primarily obstructive,
central, and mixed. During obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles
of the airway collapse. As a result, even though the breathing
muscles continue to work, no air can move through the air passage.
During Central sleep apnea, the breathing muscles themselves
stop working. Mixed sleep apnea begins with a loss of breathing
effort but ends with symptoms of obstruction.
An episode of sleep apnea ends when the person wakes up slightly,
gasps for air and begins breathing again. The process may be
repeated 40 times a night or more, disturbing the natural sleep
pattern. As a result, he or she often are extremely sleepy during
the daytime and may fall asleep at inappropriate times, causing
disruption of his or her personal and professional life. Lack
of adequate sleep also can cause anxiety and irritability and
affect concentration and memory. In addition, when the person
stops breathing, the level of oxygen in his blood decreases,
putting a strain on the heart. High blood pressure and other
heart problems may be associated with sleep apnea.
How often can breathing stop during sleep? This can happen
up to hundreds of times each night in severe cases.
What causes the airway to collapse? Extra tissue in the
back of the airway such as large tonsils, the tongue falling
back and closing of the airway or decrease in the tone of the
muscles holding the airway open.
How many people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea? 4 in 100
middle-aged men and 2 in 100 middle-aged women have Obstructive
Sleep Apnea. Approximately 95% remain undiagnosed and untreated.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is as common as adult asthma.
