Sleep Apnea: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

With 15 million snorers, it’s estimated that 78% of people in the UK sleep (or lie awake in frustration) next to someone who snores.

Living with a heavy snorer can be difficult, and it’s estimated to be the second most common reason under ‘unreasonable behaviour’ in divorce filings in the UK.

Snoring puts a strain on relationships, health, and wellbeing. However, treatment options do exist, so if snoring is driving you mad, read on.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea (also spelled apnoea) is a type of sleep disorder characterised by abnormal breathing, choking noises, and very loud snoring.

It causes very poor quality sleep as it is worse during REM sleep. During this phase of the sleep cycle the muscles relax (to prevent acting out dreams) which affects the skeletal and airway musculature. There are two types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) caused by a complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway by the throat muscle
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is less common than OSA and occurs when basic neurological controls for the breathing rate malfunction

What causes sleep apnea?

CSA is caused by a narrow, crowded, or collapsible upper airway and it is more likely to occur in men, aged over 65, with a previous history or stroke, arrhythmia, and atrial septal defects

Is sleep apnea hereditary? Sleep apnea has a variety of causes, and it can be genetic. It can occur in anyone, including children, however, it is most common in men aged over 40 years old.

Some causes may be temporary, such as congestion from a head cold. Others can include:	The anatomy of the head and neck can also cause sleep apnea, with the following traits;
Nasal congestion	Large neck
Obesity	Enlarged tonsils or tongue
Sleep position - especially back sleeping	Nasal valve collapse or nasal septum deviation
Smoking	Receding chin
Alcohol - alcohol relaxes the throat and mouth muscles, and can exacerbate such breathing issues	Narrowing of the nose or throat
Ageing	Narrow upper jaw
Hypothyroidism	Elongated soft palate or High arched palate
Family history	Loss of teeth

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

How do I know if I have sleep apnea? You may experience, or your partner may notice some, or all, of the following symptoms;

Extremely loud snoring with pauses and gasps
Shallow breathing
Choking sounds
Arousal in the middle of the night or early morning
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Irritability
Waking up feeling unrefreshed
Mood swings
Forgetfulness
Lack of concentration
Lower sex drive

What are the risks of sleep apnea?

OSA can be life threatening, as long pauses in breathing (up to 10 seconds) can cause hypoxia - or low blood oxygen. Sufferers of sleep apnea have an elevated risk of the following;

Car accidents
Hypertension
Cardiovascular disease
Heart attack
Stroke
Arrhythmia
Insulin resistance
Diabetes
Cancer
Severe reaction to COVID-19
Alzheimer’s

What does sleep apnea sound like?

Sleep apnea sounds like a pause in the breath followed by loud snoring. Snoring occurs when the throat relaxes and partially closes the airway, which then vibrates as the person breathes. This can be accompanied by shallow breathing and choking sounds. Sleep apnea reduces the quality of sleep for the snorer, and for the person who has to share a bed or room with them.

Can sleep apnea be cured - and how to treat sleep apnea?

There are numerous treatments options for sleep apnea that can help manage or reduce symptoms - some are more invasive than others.

Lifestyle changes - giving up or reducing smoking and alcohol
Losing weight
Side sleeping - check that your mattress and pillow offer optimum head and neck support
Mouth guards to keep the airway clear
Breathing devices such as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) which involves sleeping with a mask on to keep the airway open
Diaphragm pacing
Circular breathing techniques
Management of allergies
Improved sleep hygiene - creating the optimum conditions for a better night’s sleep (routine, room temperature etc.)