Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSleep ApneaSymptomsCausesRisk of DeathDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionWhen to Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sleep Apnea
Symptoms
Causes
Risk of Death
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
When to Get Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes someone to stop breathing intermittently while they sleep. The most common type isobstructive sleep apnea(OSA), in which the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes and blocks airflow.
Read on to learn more about sleep apnea, including symptoms, causes, complications, diagnosis, and treatment.
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What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes intermittent breathing disruptions during sleep. These interruptions occur frequently throughout the night and often last 10 seconds or more.
There are several types of sleep apnea, including:
How Common Is Sleep Apnea?The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that around 22 million Americans have sleep apnea. Many people with the condition don’t know they have it.
How Common Is Sleep Apnea?
The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that around 22 million Americans have sleep apnea. Many people with the condition don’t know they have it.
Many people with sleep apnea aren’t aware of any interruptions in their sleep during the night. Instead, the first symptom many people notice is excessive daytime sleepiness. In addition to daytime fatigue, the symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Can Sleep Apnea Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Men and people over 60 are more at risk of developing sleep apnea.Other risk factors for sleep apnea include:
Can You Die From Sleep Apnea?
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening health conditions, including:
Sleep apnea decreases the overall quality of sleep and restricts oxygen flow. This puts the body in a constant state of stress, which can negatively affect the heart and other organs.
A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis found that OSA was linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease-related deaths andsudden deathfor any reason. People with severe OSA were more at risk of heart disease and death than people with mild or moderate OSA.
Other research has tied sleep apnea to elevated blood sugar levels, treatment-resistant hypertension (high blood pressure), and recurring atrial fibrillation (irregular or fast heartbeat).
Excessive daytime sleepiness may also put people with sleep apnea at risk for fatal accidents, such as falling asleep while driving or operating machinery.
The only definitive way to get diagnosed with sleep apnea is through asleep study, also calledpolysomnography.
After talking to your healthcare provider about your symptoms, they will likely refer you to a sleep specialist.
An overnight sleep study may be conducted at a sleep lab or, if medically necessary, at home. During a sleep study, you’ll be provided with a comfortable place to rest for around six hours. The following information will be recorded as you sleep:
Most importantly, the test will determine yourapnea-hypopnea index(AHI). This number refers to the breathing interruptions you experience per hour while you sleep. An AHI of 5 to 15 is classified as mild, while 15 to 30 is moderate. Someone who experiences 30 or more interruptions per hour has severe sleep apnea.
Ask Your Healthcare ProviderIf you have a history of certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, or heart disease, you should ask your healthcare provider about getting tested for sleep apnea.
Ask Your Healthcare Provider
If you have a history of certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, or heart disease, you should ask your healthcare provider about getting tested for sleep apnea.
PAP devices can help people with sleep apnea get more sleep, improve their sleep quality, and reduce the risk of serious medical complications (such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack).
If you are prescribed PAP therapy, you’ll be fitted for a mask to ensure that it fits comfortably and provides the right amount of air pressure. There are several different kinds of PAP devices, including:
Different PAP devices may also include features like:
For people who can’t tolerate CPAP therapy, oral appliances or surgery (such assoft palate surgery) may be needed.
Keeping Up With PAP TherapyPAP therapy for sleep apnea is generally safe and effective. However, 46% to 83% of people diagnosed with sleep apnea do not use their PAP device as prescribed.Using your device according to your healthcare provider’s instructions can help you reduce your risk of many sleep apnea-related health complications.
Keeping Up With PAP Therapy
PAP therapy for sleep apnea is generally safe and effective. However, 46% to 83% of people diagnosed with sleep apnea do not use their PAP device as prescribed.Using your device according to your healthcare provider’s instructions can help you reduce your risk of many sleep apnea-related health complications.
What Happens If You Don’t Use Your CPAP Machine?
There are several lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent sleep apnea, including:
In cases of mild OSA, these changes may be all you need. In more severe cases, however, you will likely need treatment with aCPAP device.
When to See a Doctor
If you’re experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea.
Summary
Sleep apnea is a common medical condition that causes intermittent disruptions in breathing during sleep. Risk factors for sleep apnea include being overweight, being male, being over 60, and having a family history of snoring or sleep apnea, among others.
Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of many potentially fatal medical complications, such as stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and deadly accidents.
After being diagnosed through a sleep study, people with sleep apnea can be treated using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. It’s sometimes possible to prevent sleep apnea with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking, as well as changing sleep positions.
A Word From Verywell
While there’s no cure for sleep apnea,it is treatable. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting diagnosed with sleep apnea so you can start therapy and get a more refreshing night of rest.
A healthy blood oxygen level is usually 95% or higher. A blood oxygen level of 92% or lower is concerning and may require supplemental oxygen. At 88%, you should seek immediate medical attention.A level of 70% and lower may be life-threatening.
Sleep apnea is not curable. However, it can be treated with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, can also help to ease symptoms and restore restful sleep.
Uncontrolled sleep apnea can lead to a number of potential health complications. These may include stroke, heart disease, heart attack, diabetes, and sudden death.Excessive daytime sleepiness from sleep apnea can also lead to fatal accidents, such as car crashes, and negatively affect performance at work or school.
Uncontrolled sleep apnea can lead to a number of potential health complications. These may include stroke, heart disease, heart attack, diabetes, and sudden death.
Excessive daytime sleepiness from sleep apnea can also lead to fatal accidents, such as car crashes, and negatively affect performance at work or school.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Sleep apnea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Jean-Louis G, Zizi F, Clark LT, Brown CD, McFarlane SI.Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: role of the metabolic syndrome and its components. J Clin Sleep Med. 2008 Jun 15;4(3):261-72. PMID: 18595441; PMCID: PMC2546461.American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea information for clinicians.Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Risk factors.MedlinePlus.Sleep apnea.Heilbrunn ES, Ssentongo P, Chinchilli VM, Oh J, Ssentongo AE.Sudden death in individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2021;8(1):e000656. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000656National Library of Medicine.Sleep study.American Sleep Apnea Association.Diagnosing sleep apnea.Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Understanding PAP.Sleep Foundation.How to talk to your doctor about your sleep.NHS.Sleep apnoea.Minnesota Department of Health.Oxygen levels, pulse oximeters, and COVID-19.American Sleep Apnea Association.What is sleep apnea?
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Sleep apnea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Jean-Louis G, Zizi F, Clark LT, Brown CD, McFarlane SI.Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: role of the metabolic syndrome and its components. J Clin Sleep Med. 2008 Jun 15;4(3):261-72. PMID: 18595441; PMCID: PMC2546461.American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea information for clinicians.Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Risk factors.MedlinePlus.Sleep apnea.Heilbrunn ES, Ssentongo P, Chinchilli VM, Oh J, Ssentongo AE.Sudden death in individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2021;8(1):e000656. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000656National Library of Medicine.Sleep study.American Sleep Apnea Association.Diagnosing sleep apnea.Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine.Understanding PAP.Sleep Foundation.How to talk to your doctor about your sleep.NHS.Sleep apnoea.Minnesota Department of Health.Oxygen levels, pulse oximeters, and COVID-19.American Sleep Apnea Association.What is sleep apnea?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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NHS.Sleep apnoea.
Minnesota Department of Health.Oxygen levels, pulse oximeters, and COVID-19.
American Sleep Apnea Association.What is sleep apnea?
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