Sleep Disorders Sleep Apnea What Is Sleep Apnea? By Brandon Peters, MD facebook twitter Brandon Peters, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist. Learn about our editorial process Brandon Peters, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD on January 07, 2020 linkedin Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician and currently serves as the medical director of an outpatient clinic. Learn about our Medical Review Board Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD on January 07, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Types Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects millions of Americans. The chronic breathing disorder in which one repeatedly stops breathing during the night may be due to a partial or complete obstruction (or collapse) of the upper airway, typically affecting the base of the tongue and the soft palate. It also may occur due to a depressed signal from the brainstem to initiate a breath. These events last 10 seconds or longer, and may occur hundreds of times per night. Someone with sleep apnea may experience loud snoring, brief pauses in breathing, and intermittent gasping. During apnea events, the oxygen level of the blood drops, the heart rate increases, and sleep becomes disrupted as the affected person wakes up to resume breathing. The effects of sleep apnea can have significant consequences on one's sleep quality, daytime function, and overall health. Illustration by Jessica Olah, Verywell Types of Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a generic term that includes any disorder that causes pauses in breathing during sleep. It may affect someone at any age, but the prevalence of sleep apnea increases beyond middle age. There are three main types of sleep anpea, which include the following: Obstructive Sleep ApneaCentral Sleep ApneaComplex Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is not the only problem that can lead to difficulties breathing during sleep. There are a few other problems that do not cause a complete pause in the breathing but may still be problematic, such as snoring, Catathrenia (sleep groaning), or Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). It is also important to recognize that oxygen levels may drop during sleep if lung function is compromised due to pulmonary disease, and this would require distinct treatment. Sleep Apnea Symptoms Aside from the pauses in breathing which are typical of the disorder, there are many other common symptoms in sleep apnea. These symptoms may include: Loud, chronic snoringChoking or gasping during sleepWitnessed pauses in breathing during sleepWaking frequently to urinate (nocturia)Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)Dry throat or mouth upon awakeningNocturnal palpitations or a racing heart rateNight sweatsNocturnal heartburnFrequent nighttime awakenings and insomniaExcessive daytime sleepinessMorning headacheShort-term memory or learning problemsFeeling irritablePoor concentration or attentionChanges in mood, including depression Not all of these symptoms must be present for the condition to occur, and children with sleep apnea may present with different complaints like growth problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and restless sleep. Causes There are a few common causes of obstructive sleep apnea, and these situations could also make existing sleep apnea worse, including: Being overweight or obese (including a large neck size)Abnormal upper airway anatomy (including a deviated septum)Using medications, drugs, or alcoholAgingSleeping on the backREM or dreaming sleepSmoking In addition, central sleep apnea may occur due to a stroke, heart failure, or the use of narcotic or opioid pain medications. Complex sleep apnea occurs with certain treatments. Sleep apnea is actually relatively common. When sleep apnea is defined as having more than five apneic events per hour, then some 22% of men and 17% of woman would be afflicted with sleep apnea. If someone will develop sleep apnea, they will typically do so by age 65. It is more common among men. Diagnosis The diagnosis of sleep apnea often depends on a careful history and physical examination by a qualified, board-certified sleep medicine physician. In general, either a home sleep apnea test or an attended diagnostic polysomnogram that is done in a testing center are the only tests required to diagnose sleep apnea. Further testing is accomplished using a set of standard diagnostic tests, potentially including: PolysomnographyHome Sleep Apnea TestMultiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT)Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)Overnight OximetryEpworth Sleepiness ScaleSleep Log 7 Diagnostic Tests for Sleep Disorders Treatment There are several types of treatment for sleep apnea—it often takes trying different treatments (or a combination of treatments) to find what works. Some common treatments include the following: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Most individuals who seek treatment are put through this process, which requires choosing a CPAP mask. The mask provides a flow of pressurized air to open your airways while you sleep. In addition, it is important to keep your CPAP clean.Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP). Similar to a CPAP, a BiPAP is also sometimes used. The difference here is that two types of pressurized air are provided through a mask (one type of air as you breathe in, the other as you breathe out).Chinstrap. Accommodations such as these can help to prevent mouth breathing. Chinstraps are sometimes used in addition to CPAPs. For those who cannot tolerate CPAP, there are some alternative treatments to CPAP. These may include oral appliances, positional therapy, or surgeries. In some cases, when excessive daytime sleepiness persists despite treatment, stimulants such as Ritalin, Provigil, and Nuvigil may be necessary to treat the sleepiness. Even quirky alternatives such as playing the didgeridoo have been shown to be an effective treatment. Some individuals may find benefits from caffeine or even scheduled naps. As always, individuals with sleep disorders benefit from observing better sleep guidelines. Tips for a Better Night's Sleep Complications There can be serious consequences—even lethal ones—to untreated sleep apnea. These include: Stroke or transient ischemic attacksCoronary heart diseaseHeart failureIrregular heartbeatHeart attackHigh blood pressureHeartburn and refluxDiabetesErectile dysfunctionConcentration and memory problems (dementia)DepressionSudden death There are separate consequences of sleep apnea in children, which may include hyperactivity, slowed growth, and decreased intelligence. A Word From Verywell Sleep apnea refers to any one of the common disorders that result from pauses during your breathing while you sleep. There are many possible contributing factors that could cause your breathing to be disrupted. However, it is crucial to speak with your doctor about the potential risks posed by this pausing of breath. Sleep apnea may cause you to feel tired or depressed—at worst, however, the risks of sleep apnea can be fatal. If you are experiencing sleep apnea, speak to your healthcare professional about potential treatments that are right for you. Try These Natural Remedies for Sleep Apnea Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tossing and turning night over night can have a big impact on your quality of life. Our free guide can help you get the rest you need. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cowie MR. Sleep apnea: State of the art. 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Nat Sci Sleep. 2010;2:95–105. doi:10.2147/nss.s6728 Puhan MA, Suarez A, Lo cascio C, Zahn A, Heitz M, Braendli O. Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2006;332(7536):266-70. doi:10.1136/bmj.38705.470590.55 American Sleep Apnea Association. What is Sleep Apnea? Additional Reading American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "International classification of sleep disorders: Diagnostic and coding manual." 2nd ed. 2005. Collop, N. "The effect of obstructive sleep apnea on chronic medical disorders." Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2007 74:1. Durmer, J et al. "Pediatric Sleep Medicine." American Academy of Neurology Continuum. 2007; 153-200. Epstein, LJ et al. "Clinical guideline for the evaluation, management, and long-term care of obstructive sleep apnea in adults." J Clin Sleep Med. 2009; 5:263.