Information on Sleep Apnea

Looking for information on sleep apnea, but you are too tired to read?

Find all the information you need in one page:

• signs of sleep apnea,
• risk factors,
• sleep apnea problems,
• and various treatments.

Sleep Apnea Definition

Sleep apnea is very common, affecting more than 4 of 100 people in the middle-aged population, and is more common than either diabetes or asthma.

There are 3 types of sleep apnea:

• central sleep apnea - occurs when respiratory centers in the brain fail to send the necessary messages to initiate breathing.

  Although the airway isn't blocked, the diaphragm and chest muscles stop moving, therefore you don't snore if you have central apnea episodes.



• obstructive sleep apnea - in which cessation of airflow is noted despite continued efforts to breath due to upper airway obstruction, therefore you will snore very loud and irregular.

Obstructive apnea affects almost 18 million people only in the United States, and is most often seen in patients with overweight problems.

A sign can be a thick neck, which is a measure of body weight. So, you may have a sign of sleep apnea if you have you collar size:

• 17 inches or greater (in men)
• 16 inches or greater (in women)

However, thin people can also have obstructive sleep apnea.

• mixed sleep apnea - consists of an initial central apnea followed by ineffective respiratory effort with obstructive apnea.

Information on Sleep Apnea Causes

• family history
• male gender
• obesity - body mass index > 25
• medical and neurological disorders
• nasal turbinate hypertrophy
• smoking
• inappropriate medication use
• enlarged tonsils and adenoids
• dental malocclusion
• large uvula
• large neck circumference
• nasal septal deviation
• alcohol
• anatomical characteristics.

For more information about causes of sleep apnea click here.

Information on Sleep Apnea Symptoms

• daytime sleepiness
• extreme fatigue
• irregular and loud snoring
• stop breathing in sleep
• repeated awakenings with gasping or choking
• morning headaches
• nocturia
• depression
• dry mouth or throat on awakening
• poor memory and concentration
• hyperactivity (in children)
• impotence or diminished libido
• insomnia
• excessive body movements during sleep.

If you want to learn more about symptoms of sleep apnea click here.

Information on Sleep Apnea Side Effects

• cardiac arrhythmia
• ischemic heart disease
• congestive heart failure
• coronary artery disease
• hypertension
• diabetes mellitus type 2
• weight gain
• increased risk for stroke
• gastroesophageal reflux
• erectile dysfunction and poor sexual function
• social withdrawal
• increased risk of accidents due to decreased alertness and excessive drowsiness.
• marital difficulties

Information on Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

Before going to the doctor or sleep apnea specialist and ask about your sleep problem, you might want to try these tests:

• sleep apnea questionnaire


• epworth sleepiness scale


• home sleep study

Because clinical and physical examination is not enough to diagnose the severity of sleep apnea, a sleep study is required.

Information on Sleep Apnea Treatment

There are a variety of treatments for sleep apnea, including:

• natural cure for sleep apnea - I strongly believe that behavioral treatments have significant advantages and should be explored early in patients with sleep disorders.

  Also, the natural remedies do not carry the health risks or side effects of sleeping pills, and they are always welcome. Here are some examples:

• avoidance of alcohol and sedative medications
• stop smoking
• sleep hygiene
• diet and exercises
• avoiding the supine position


• alternative remedies for sleep apnea - another source of information about treating sleep apnea with alternative solutions.


• weight reduction - People who are obese are at greater risk of developing sleep apnea than people who are a healthy weight for their height. People with a BMI of 30 or more are usually considered obese.

If you are in this situation, the next strategies can help you:

• weight loss programs
• bariatric surgery for morbid obesity
• reduction of dietary caloric consumption
• physical exercises


• Positional therapy - Not sleeping on your back may help if your apnea occurs only in that position, and can be achieved with positional training or with Rematee products.


• Medication for sleep apnea - a large number of medications are used in the treatment of a variety of sleep disorders, however, they must be prescribed by your doctor.

  For sleep apnea, these medications might help:

• Acetazolamide
• Theophylline


• Dental devices for sleep apnea - there are more than forty different devices currently on the market, which fall into two general categories:


• mandibular advancement device
• tongue retaining device


• Upper airway surgery for sleep apnea:


• tracheostomy
• uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
• sleep apnea pillar procedure
• maxillomandibular advancement
• nasal surgery
• tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy
• genioglossal advancement


• Positive Airway Pressure, which is the most effective therapy:


• Continuous positive airway pressure
• Bi-level positive airway pressure
• Automated positive airway pressure
• Nighttime ventilation

FREE Sleep-Apnea-Guide Handbook

Email Name Then Sign up here to receive Sleep-Apnea-Info Ezine As a special bonus, you will receive a link to "Sleep-Apnea-Handbook."

Return from Information on Sleep Apnea to Sleep Apnea Guide