What causes Sleep Apnea?

There are several kinds of sleep apnea and each has different causes. Regardless of which kind you might have, though, it's very important to see your doctor if you suspect you have the disorder.

Sleep apnea can be very dangerous and lead to accidents as well as other serious health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

The types of sleep apnea and some of the risk factors or causes include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form and occurs when your throat muscles relax; when they relax the throat collapses on itself and blocks your airway. Blood flow to the brain is decreased, which signals the brain to partially awaken from sleep to alert the body that it needs to breathe. This is often followed by a loud gasping, choking, or snorting sounds as the person takes a deep enough breath to fight past the obstruction. The process then begins again, and can occur anywhere from a few times a night to hundreds of times a night, depending on severity. Causes & risk factors include:

  • Being overweight - When fatty tissues build up in the neck and throat, your throat can be narrowed during sleep.
  • Frequent alcohol use - Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, and they may relax enough to block your airway during sleep.
  • Smoking - Since smoke is an irritant to the lungs, throat, and esophagus, it can cause inflammation and fluid retention that impedes airflow.
  • Aging - As you age, your throat muscles become weaker and more likely to collapse during sleep.
  • Enlarged tonsils or adenoids - The leading cause in children, but can be experienced by adults who haven't had a tonsillectomy.
  • Natural causes - You may have a narrower throat or an enlarged tongue that falls back into their airway.

• Central sleep apnea occurs when the musles that control your breathing don't receive the proper signals from your brain. Different causes often lead to varying symptoms and different types of central sleep apnea. Some causes include:

  • Parkinson's disease
  • Medical conditions that affect the brain stem including brain infection and stroke
  • Obesity
  • Certain medications like narcotic painkillers
  • Heart failure

• Complex sleep apnea syndrome (also known as mixed sleep apnea) occurs when you have both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Sometimes people with obstructive sleep apnea will also develop symptoms of central sleep apnea.

Regardless of which type you might have, left untreated you'll continue to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep and increase your risk of other serious health issues.

Most people don't even realize they're stopping breathing because they don’t fully wake up; those that do know are usually told by a partner that they've been stopping breathing.

Please contact your doctor if you suspect you may have sleep apnea!