You may have sleep apnea, a disorder that affects more than 12 million Americans.  Sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which a person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep, ranging from 10 seconds to more than a minute.  Episodes can occur as many as hundreds of times in a single night in more severe cases.

Snoring, fatigue, and difficulty focusing are a few of the more common symptoms of OSA, and according to the National Institutes of Health, your chances of developing sleep apnea increase as you get older.  The NIH estimates that at least one person in 10 over age 65 suffers from OSA.  Although more common in men, after menopause women’s chances of developing the disorder increase as well.

Why?  As we age, loss of muscle mass in the airway can be replaced by fat, leaving the airway predisposed to closure.  Excessive weight gain, a large neck, tongue, tonsils or adenoids, and smoking are additional risk factors for OSA.

So, what’s the big deal? 
If you think sleep apnea simply means a less restful night, you’re right – but it doesn’t end there.

Our bodies need deep (REM) sleep in order to recharge.  OSA constantly disrupts REM and other stages of sleep, resulting in the symptoms mentioned above.

If left unchecked, OSA can lead to serious conditions, such as high blood pressure, cardiac dysrhythmia, heart attack, stroke and diabetes – all reasons to take your sleep very seriously!

Diagnosis
Based on your symptoms and history, your doctor may send you for a sleep study, where you will likely undergo a polysomnogram (PSG), a painless test that monitors certain body functions – including breathing – as you sleep.  Usually the results of your PSG will determine whether you have OSA and what type.

Treatment
Losing weight and changing lifestyle habits are sometimes enough to lessen or eliminate OSA.  Mouthpieces may also be used in mild cases. 

For moderate or severe OSA, your doctor may prescribe continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), delivered by a CPAP machine.  The machine has a mask that fits over your nose or mouth or both, and gently blows air into your air passages.  This keeps any obstructions – your tongue, fatty tissue – from blocking your breath.

Using a CPAP machine can take some getting used to.  Dana Patton, manager of clinical services at Henry Ford Health Products, stressed that it’s important to be fitted with the right mask.  “Comfort equals compliance,” he said.  A mask can be just slightly off and will create problems where the mask meets the skin.  “You really need to replace it when it’s time, usually every six months,” he added.  The oils from your skin cause the mask to harden over time, rendering it uncomfortable.  A new mask will alleviate that problem.

For more tips on making CPAP work for you, visit the National Sleep Foundation here.

Resources:

American Sleep Apnea Association

National Sleep Foundation

National Institutes of Health/National Center on Sleep Disorders Research