Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common types of sleep apnea according to sleep researchers and physicians. While sleep apnea, as a general term, refers to any involuntary pauses in breathing during the sufferer’s sleeping state, obstructive sleep apnea refers to the same effect, except that the pauses are literally caused by an obstruction in the sufferer’s airway. In both general sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea, the word “apnea” is Greek for “without breath".

Obstructive sleep apnea is typically suffered by adults that are clinically obese, or overweight. The problem is more likely to occur to those who carry excess fat and weight around their face and necks. The excess fat and loss of overall muscle tone in those areas causes the soft lining of the airways to collapse while at rest during sleep periods, causing the sufferer to skip several breaths at a time.

Obstructive sleep apnea usually causes the sufferer to exhibit symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness, caused from the inability to obtain a proper night’s rest due to being shocked awake several times during sleeping periods. Many long-time obstructive sleep apnea sufferers will experience short, involuntary sleeping or “dozing” periods during the day while at rest or even just sitting. Many times this behavior is misdiagnosed as narcolepsy since the more dramatic episodes can occur during normal conversation periods and even while at work.

Obstructive sleep apnea can even cause unwanted effects on the brain over time. Many times, a phenomenon known as hypoxia can occur, which describes an unwanted absence of oxygen supply to the brain. Over time, unchecked hypoxia can affect neurons in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the brain. If left alone, these changes can affect the obstructive sleep apnea sufferers’ ability to mentally manipulate information that is transferred nonverbally and, to a certain extent, their own executive function.

The primary causes of obstructive sleep apnea appear to be largely related to obesity or at least more than a small extent to the sufferers’ weight. Since excess weight and fat tend to follow closely with decreased muscle tone, these two causes seem to work synergistically in perpetuating obstructive sleep apnea problems. Primary causes include an increased amount of soft tissue bordering the sufferers’ airways, a stark decrease in muscle tone, and genetic features such as slightly narrowed airways. While some causes, such as decreased muscle tone, can be caused by factors other than obesity (such as drug use or alcohol abuse) in most cases, any secondary causes are accompanied by obesity in the first place.