What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common health disorder that causes a person to take shallow breaths or cease breathing while sleeping. Pauses in breathing may occur over 30 times an hour. After the pauses in breathing, normal breathing picks up again, often with a choking or loud nasal sound.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

There are several causes of sleep apnea. One of the most common causes of sleep apnea in adults is obesity. With children, some of the causes are enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and dental problems such as a large overbite. Sleep apnea is also associated with birth defects such as Pierre-Robin syndrome and Down syndrome.

Risk Factors

In addition, there are other risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea such as a thick neck, narrow throat and round head.

Additional factors that may contribute to sleep apnea are: 

• Hypothyroidism 
• Allergies 
• A deviated septum 
• Too much smoking 
• Oversedation 

You may not know this, but aging may be a risk factor for sleep apnea. As a person ages, the brain is not as effective in keeping the upper airway throat muscles stiff during sleep. This increases the likelihood that the airway will become narrow or collapse.

Other Factors That Contribute to Sleep Apnea

Studies also show that postmenopausal women who are on hormone replacement therapy are less likely to develop sleep apnea compared to women who are not on HRT. In addition, men are more likely to be affected by sleep apnea than women. However, women are likely to develop sleep apnea during pregnancy and after menopause.

What Complications Are Associated with Sleep Apnea?

Some of the complications associated with sleep apnea include (but aren’t limited to):

• High blood pressure 
• Heart attack 
• Stroke 
• Diabetes 
• Angina 
• Hypothyroidism 

Medical treatment for sleep apnea includes controlling risk factors, using CPAP or oral appliances to ease breathing while asleep, and surgery. In addition, your doctor can offer you a device to lessen the effects of sleep apnea. Many patients find oral appliance are comfort, quiet, convenience, and easy to maintain.

If you suffer from sleep apnea but haven’t sought treatment, speak with your doctor or dentist and find out about the treatment options available.