Apnea Meaning
Bobby Morosco
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. Most people with sleep apnea experience symptoms such as loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. The two main types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).
People with sleep apnea repeatedly have reductions or pauses in breathing for brief periods while they sleep. Although these lapses cause a person to awaken periodically and reduce sleep quality, sleepers may not fully wake up and remain unaware that their nighttime breathing is abnormal.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway at the back of the throat becomes constricted or blocked during sleep, which may cause snoring Trusted Source Medline PlusMedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.View Source as air is prevented from passing through normally. In response to the airway obstruction, a person usually wakes up, engages the muscles in their throat, and takes several gasps or deep breaths, often accompanied by sounds like snorting or choking.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It is estimated to affect 10% to 30% of adults Trusted Source UpToDateMore than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights.View Source in the United States but in many cases goes undiagnosed.
Central sleep apnea (CSA) involves disruption in the communication between the brain and the muscles that control breathing Trusted Source Merck ManualFirst published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers.View Source . As a result, breathing may become shallower and have temporary pauses.
The prevalence of central sleep apnea is low compared to obstructive sleep apnea. It is estimated that less than 1% Trusted Source Medscape ReferenceMedscape is on online destination for healthcare professionals worldwide, offering expert perspectives, drug and disease information, and professional education.View Source of people have CSA.
In people with obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles in the back of the throat relax during sleep, reducing space for air to pass through. Snoring occurs as the airway narrows, and when the airway is obstructed, a person fails to get enough oxygen. The lack of oxygen causes partial or complete awakenings in order to restore airflow. These breathing disruptions happen repeatedly during sleep.
Central sleep apnea arises because of problems in how the brain communicates with the muscles responsible for breathing. For people with CSA, a part of the brain called the brain stem fails to properly recognize carbon dioxide levels in the body during sleep. This leads to repeated episodes of breathing that is slower and shallower than it should be.
Central sleep apnea most often occurs as a consequence of another medical problem, such as an infection or injury affecting the brain stem Trusted Source Medline PlusMedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.View Source , heart or kidney failure, stroke, or excess growth hormone production. Studies have identified some additional factors that are linked with a heightened risk of central sleep apnea.
A sleep study is necessary to diagnose obstructive or central sleep apnea. The most dependable kind of sleep study is called polysomnography, which is conducted during an overnight stay at a specialized sleep laboratory.
During polysomnography, multiple sensors are used to track breathing, awakenings, oxygen levels, muscle movement, sleep stages, and other aspects of sleep. An in-clinic sleep study can determine if breathing is abnormal and differentiate between obstructive and central sleep apnea. For OSA, polysomnography may involve either one or two visits to a sleep clinic.
An at-home sleep study for obstructive sleep apnea is an option for certain patients who are believed to have more severe OSA. Taking an at-home sleep apnea test may be more convenient, but the results must still be interpreted by a health professional. Home testing is not used for central sleep apnea.
Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is a treatment offered to almost all people with obstructive sleep apnea. PAP therapy keeps the airway open Trusted Source Medline PlusMedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.View Source with pressurized air that is pumped from a machine through a hose and a mask worn on the face.
Treatment for central sleep apnea often focuses on addressing the medical issue causing abnormal breathing. If sleep disruptions are mild, treatment for the underlying cause may be all that is required.
Although frequently associated with older adults, sleep apnea can occur in children. In young people, obstructive sleep apnea is much more common Trusted Source UpToDateMore than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights.View Source than central sleep apnea. It is estimated that 1% to 5% of children Trusted Source UpToDateMore than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights.View Source have obstructive sleep apnea.
Children with OSA may not experience excessive daytime sleepiness as seen in adults with sleep apnea. Instead, they may exhibit daytime symptoms like hyperactivity, learning difficulties, or behavior problems.
As in adults, snoring is common for children with obstructive sleep apnea. However, children may have other nighttime symptoms Trusted Source Medline PlusMedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.View Source like sweating, bedwetting, or sleepwalking. Children with severe untreated OSA may also experience problems with their growth and development.
For many children, obstructive sleep apnea is caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids in the throat, and surgery to remove these tissues Trusted Source Merck ManualFirst published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers.View Source may be an option for treatment.
The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea. It causes your airway to collapse or become blocked during sleep. Normal breathing starts again with a snort or choking sound. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
When your sleep is interrupted throughout the night, you can be drowsy during the day. People with sleep apnea are at higher risk for car crashes, work-related accidents, and other medical problems. If you have it, it is important to get treatment. Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and breathing devices can treat sleep apnea in many people.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder during sleep that has implications beyond disrupted sleep. It is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiac, neurologic, and perioperative morbidities. Yet this disorder remains undiagnosed in a substantial portion of our population. It is imperative for all physicians to remain vigilant in identifying patients with signs and symptoms consistent with OSA. This review focuses on updates in the areas of terminology and testing, complications of untreated OSA, perioperative considerations, treatment options, and new developments in this field.
Obesity is a major health burden that contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. Obesity is also the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); at least 70% of patients are obese. OSA as such, has been linked with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and OSA patients often display metabolic syndrome. The exact underlying mechanisms behind these associations are complex and not fully understood. In obese individuals, weight reduction and increased physical activity form cornerstones for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome, and recent controlled intervention trials strongly suggest that weight reduction together with a healthy diet and increased physical activity may correct or at least improve the symptoms of OSA. However, regardless of promising results in terms of symptoms of OSA and the undoubted metabolic benefits of changing lifestyles, weight reduction as a treatment of OSA is still underrated by many clinicians. Based on the current knowledge, clinicians should revise their previous attitudes, including suspicions about weight reduction as an effective treatment for OSA patients. Nevertheless, we also need large well-controlled trials on the effects of different weight reduction programs among OSA patients to determine the overall efficacy of different treatment modalities and their long-term success.
Up until a few years ago, it was standard for a doctor to recommend sleep tests in overnight labs for suspected sleep apnea. Patients would pack their night clothes and go to a lab as they would to a hotel, except that they would go to bed with sensors attached to their bodies. As they slept, technologists would collect data, including breathing, heart, and brain wave activity. (Overnight laboratories are still important for people who have additional problems, such as heart or lung disease, that may need special monitoring.)
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