Sleep apnea is a physiological condition characterized by the relaxation of muscles in the airway (at the back of the throat) which severely impair breathing during sleep. Those with apnea can experience up to 100 missed breaths over the course of the night, which is why the condition has earned its namesake: apnea, which literally means 'without breath' in Greek.

There are three different types of apnea, the first of which is central apnea, caused by a lack of respiratory effort from the brain. Complex apnea is another form of the condition, comprising of a mixture of central apnea and obstructive apnea. Obstructive apnea is caused not by the brain's lack of respiratory effort, but by the relaxation of the muscles in the airway becoming too extreme. They relax so much that the tissues on either side of the airway touch, blocking the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out.

People with obstructive sleep apnea do not suffocate during the night, but instead tend to miss breaths, followed by a gasp for air. This may be accompanied by snoring and to an onlooker it can sound quite alarming. While the individual does get oxygen during the night from these gasps, the breaths are not regular and the blood oxygen levels are disturbed. This can cause a range of long term physiological problems, especially with the heart. What's more, when the brain realizes that there is not enough oxygen flow around the body, it works to do something about it. This produces an alarm response that says 'breathe!' and attempts to wake the individual up. While they probably won't wake up fully, they are very likely to come out of deep sleep and remain in light sleep until they fall deeper again and the cycle goes on. As a result, individuals suffering with obstructive sleep apnea often only get snatches of deep sleep during the night.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common of the three types of sleep apnea, and it's more prevalent in men than women who are over the age of 35 (a ratio of 2:1). It affects approximately 0.6% of the current US population, which may be a huge number, but luckily there are several different treatments that can be sought for the condition.

Obstructive sleep apnea, much like chronic snoring, is more common in people who are overweight. If this is the case for an individual then it's recommended they visit a dietitian and/or fitness coach who can help them devise a weight loss plan. Most individuals find that with weight loss their condition goes from chronic obstructive sleep apnea to mild or moderate snoring. Alternatively obstructive sleep apnea sufferers can visit a trained dentist for specially made dental devices that are worn at night to open the airway, or a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device to keep the airway open with pressurized air.

If you, your partner or a family member are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea then it's important to visit your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment straight away. Obstructive sleep apnea can cause severe tiredness impairing driving skills and cognition during the day, as well as contributing to long term heart conditions when left untreated.

Jason Ladock

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