Three Types of Sleep Apnea Explained

No one likes being the person who snores, or worse — being next to someone who snores. But while snoring is often categorized as a quirky inconvenience, it could be a sign of a larger problem — sleep apnea.

The Three Types of Sleep Apnea

Generally speaking, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing throughout the night. There are three main types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is the most common form, and causes your throat muscles to relax. When your muscles relax, your airway narrows, making it difficult for air to pass through. When this happens, your brain sends signals to your muscles, forcing them to quickly tighten and allow air in — this is typically what causes people to wake up throughout the night.

Central Sleep Apnea

This form of sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn’t send the correct, or any, signals to muscles that control your breathing. This means that for short periods of time (typically 5 - 20 seconds), you're making no effort to breath in your sleep. People who suffer from this will typically wake up coughing or choking, or with shortness of breath.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome

This occurs when you have both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

Risk Factors

Though anyone can develop sleep apnea, there are several factors that make a person more likely to have the disorder.

• Being male: Men are twice as likely as women to have sleep apnea.
• Age: Sleep apnea occurs more frequently in adults and the elderly.
• Alcohol before bed: Alcohol, as well as other sedatives, relax the muscles in your throat.
• Being overweight: People who are obese are four times more likely to develop sleep apnea, since excess fat around the chest and throat can contribute to difficulty breathing.

When to See a Doctor

While occasional restless nights or light snoring is normal, you should consult a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Your snoring wakes others throughout the night.
• You wake up in the middle of the night choking or gasping for air.
• Your partner tells you that you stop breathing throughout the night.
• You are tired during the day, despite getting eight hours of sleep.

At Florida ENT, we offer state of the art, individualized treatment for those who suffer from sleep apnea. From diagnosis to treatment plan, we can have you breathing easy in no time. To learn more about sleep apnea or the services we provide, give us a call today at (877) EAR-NOSE.