What is Sleep Apnea?

• Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which a person stops breathing while sleeping. These pauses in your breathing can happen up to several or many times in an hour.
  
  

Types of Sleep Apnea

• There are two types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is when something is blocking your windpipe such as your tongue, tonsils or even fatty tissue; central sleep apnea is when the brain does not send the proper signal telling you to breathe.
  
  

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

• Sleep apnea often goes untreated, but there are symptoms you and your family can look for. Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the biggest symptoms. Others include snoring, insomnia, suddenly waking up and being short of breath, ceasing to breathe while you sleep. It can also cause irritability and depression.
  
  

Tests for Sleep Apnea

• There are tests you can take to determine whether you have sleep apnea. The first test might be a simple oximetry in which you will wear a device on your finger at night that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. If your oxygen level is found to be low, your doctor may want to conduct additional tests. Nocturnal polysomnography is usually done in a sleep lab where you will have to stay overnight. In this test you will be hooked up to various monitors that record what is happening with your heart, lung and brain function.
  
  

Effects of Sleep Apnea on Heart Function

• Because your body depends on oxygen to function properly, sleep apnea can put you at risk for many health problems. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, there is an increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and heart failure for those with sleep apnea.
  
  

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

• Untreated sleep apnea can wreak havoc on your life, but there are treatments available to help. One of the most common is a continuous positive airway device or CPAP machine. With a CPAP you will wear a mask on your face or nose that will deliver the air pressure you need. You might also consider surgery to remove any tissue or polyps that may be causing your sleep apnea.