Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Symptoms and Causes

ByJanis Updated

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when someone repeatedly stops breathing while sleeping. This occurs because throat muscles relax and block the airway during sleep.

The blockage can happen many times throughout the night. Loud snoring is often a key sign of this condition.

This breathing disorder is the most common type of sleep-related breathing problem. Several treatment options exist for people with obstructive sleep apnea:

  • Positive pressure devices: Machines that keep airways open during sleep.
  • Specialized mouthpieces: Devices that move the lower jaw forward.
  • Surgical options: Available for some patients when other treatments aren’t effective.

These treatments can help manage symptoms and improve sleep quality for those affected by this condition.

Signs and Symptoms

Sleep apnea can cause many problems that affect both nighttime sleep and daytime functioning. People with this condition often experience:

  • Loud snoring
  • Breathing stops during sleep (noticed by others)
  • Waking up gasping or choking
  • Extreme daytime tiredness
  • Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
  • Headaches when waking up
  • Trouble paying attention
  • Changes in mood or feeling irritable
  • High blood pressure
  • Less interest in sexual activity

When You Should Contact a Doctor

Talk to a healthcare provider if you or your bed partner notice:

  • Snoring that’s loud enough to disturb sleep
  • Gasping or choking that wakes you up
  • Pauses in breathing while sleeping
  • Falling asleep during daily activities, work, or even while driving

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, if your snoring includes periods of silence followed by gasping, this could be concerning. The problem might be worse when sleeping on your back.

Don’t ignore ongoing sleep problems that leave you tired, sleepy, or irritable day after day. Other sleep disorders, like narcolepsy, can also cause excessive daytime sleepiness, so proper diagnosis is important.

Causes

Sleep apnea happens when throat muscles relax too much during sleep. These muscles normally support important parts of your throat, including:

  • The soft palate (back of the roof of your mouth)
  • Your tongue
  • The side walls of your throat

When these muscles relax excessively, your airway becomes narrower or completely closes as you try to breathe in. This narrowing reduces oxygen levels in your blood and allows carbon dioxide to build up.

Your brain detects this breathing problem and briefly wakes you up to reopen your airway. These wake-ups are typically so short that most people don’t remember them. You might:

  • Wake up briefly with shortness of breath
  • Make snorting, choking, or gasping sounds
  • Return to sleep quickly

This cycle can repeat 5โ€“30 times (or more) every hour throughout the night. These constant disruptions prevent you from reaching deep, restful sleep phases.

Many people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have a problem. The brief awakenings happen so quickly that you might think you slept through the night without interruption.

However, poor sleep quality often leads to daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

The repeated drops in blood oxygen levels and sleep disruptions can have serious health effects over time. These breathing pauses put strain on your cardiovascular system and other bodily functions.

Risk Factors

Certain factors increase the chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea:

  • Weight Issues: Extra body weight is a major risk factor. Fat around the upper airway can block breathing during sleep. People with weight-related conditions like hypothyroidism or polycystic ovary syndrome face higher risks.
  • Age: Risk increases with age, though it tends to plateau after the 60s or 70s.
  • Airway Structure: Having a naturally narrow airway increases the risk. This trait can be inherited. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids may also block airflow.
  • Health Conditions:
    • High blood pressure patients commonly have sleep apnea
    • Diabetes increases risk
    • Chronic stuffy nose doubles the chance of developing the condition
    • Asthma is linked to a higher risk of sleep apnea
  • Lifestyle Factors: Smokers face a higher risk of developing this breathing disorder.
  • Gender and Hormones: Men are 2โ€“3 times more likely to develop sleep apnea than women before menopause. Women’s risk increases after menopause.
  • Family History: Having relatives with sleep apnea may raise your risk, suggesting genetic factors play a role.

This table summarizes the main risk factors:

Risk Factor How It Affects Risk
Excess weight Fat deposits may block airways
Older age Risk increases until the 60s and 70s
Narrow airway Less space for air to flow
High blood pressure Often occurs together
Nasal congestion Doubles risk when chronic
Smoking Increases inflammation and risk
Male sex 2โ€“3 times higher risk than premenopausal women
Family history Suggests a genetic component

Health Risks and Problems

Obstructive sleep apnea brings several serious health risks. This condition can affect many parts of your life and health.

Sleep Problems and Daily Function

People with this condition often feel very tired during the day. They may find it hard to focus at work or school. Some even fall asleep while driving, which can be dangerous.

Children with sleep apnea might get poor grades or have behavior problems because they don’t get enough good sleep.

Heart and Blood Vessel Risks

When breathing stops during sleep, blood oxygen levels drop suddenly. This puts stress on your heart and blood vessels. Many people with sleep apnea develop high blood pressure. The more severe the sleep apnea, the higher your risk for:

  • Heart disease
  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • Stroke

Sleep apnea can also cause irregular heartbeats. These rhythm problems can be dangerous, especially if you already have heart disease.

Medical Treatment Issues

Some medicines can make sleep apnea worse, including:

  • Sedatives
  • Some pain medicines
  • General anesthesia

Surgery becomes more risky with sleep apnea. The medicines used during surgery can relax your throat muscles, making breathing problems worse. Always tell your doctor about your sleep apnea before any surgery.

Vision Concerns

Research shows links between sleep apnea and eye problems like glaucoma. Most eye issues can be treated if caught early.

Relationship Strain

The loud snoring that comes with sleep apnea can keep your partner awake. Lack of sleep can negatively affect relationships. Some partners choose to sleep in different rooms.

Other Problems

Sleep apnea can cause several other issues:

  • Memory problems
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Mood changes or depression
  • Frequent nighttime urination

COVID-19 Risk

People with sleep apnea may face higher risks from COVID-19. Studies show they might need hospital care more often than people without sleep apnea if infected.

Impact on Quality of Life

Area Affected Common Problems
Work Poor performance, accidents
Driving Increased crash risk
Relationships Conflicts from snoring and irritability
Mental Health Depression, memory issues
Physical Health Heart problems, high blood pressure

Related Questions

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Health Writer

Janis's areas of expertise include nutrition, exercise, stress management, and mental health. She is passionate about educating and empowering people to take control of their health and make positive changes that can last a lifetime. Janis believes that small, sustainable changes are the key to long-term success, and she works with her clients to develop personalized plans that fit their individual needs and lifestyles.