Sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing slows down or stops while you’re sleeping. These episodes (“apneas”) last at least 10 seconds or longer. If your sleep apnea is severe, it could happen 30 or more times in 1 hour. 

Symptoms when you’re asleep include:

• Breathing that starts and stops
• Loud snoring
• Sudden gasping for air
• Waking with a snorting or choking sound 

Other symptoms include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Trouble focusing
• Headache
• Irritability
• Dry mouth
• Insomnia
• Waking up frequently to use the bathroom 

Anyone can have sleep apnea, but it’s more common in:

• Men
• People with obesity
• People who smoke tobacco or drink alcohol
• Older people
• People with large tonsils, neck, or tongue
• People with cleft lip, cleft palate, or Down syndrome
• People with hormonal conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and thyroid disorders
• People with heart or kidney failure

There are 2 main types of sleep apnea—obstructive and central. A third type, mixed or complex sleep apnea, is an uncommon combination of the other 2.

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when the muscles at the back of the throat relax too much. Soft tissues like the palate, tongue, and uvula block the airway.

This blockage reduces or stops airflow, depriving your body of oxygen. When the oxygen levels in your body drop, your brain signals you to wake and start breathing again. Waking frequently prevents you from getting deep, restorative sleep.

OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea. It affects 10%  –  30% of adults.

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) happens when your brain doesn’t send the signals you need to breathe. It usually develops because of another health issue or medicine. Adults with heart failure, brain tumors, kidney failure, or stroke may develop CSA.

Alcohol, antidepressants, prescription, and illegal opioids are other causes. CSA can also happen when you’re in a high-altitude area for an extended period.

CSA affects fewer than 1% of adults. But it occurs in about 25% of preterm babies, and in some full-term babies.

Mixed or complex sleep apnea

Complex sleep apnea is a rare combination of OSA and CSA. It happens in some people who are using positive airway pressure therapy for OSA. While treatment is ongoing, they develop CSA for unknown reasons.

Mixed sleep apnea typically gets better on its own within a few weeks.

Our pulmonology department works closely with the medical team at our sleep centers. Together, we diagnose and treat all types of sleep apnea.

We offer overnight sleep studies in comfortable private rooms. These painless tests involve monitors that track your breathing while you sleep. The results tell doctors how often you have apnea episodes and how long they are.

Once we know more about your sleep issues, we can create a care plan. Here are some of the treatments we offer:

• Healthy lifestyle changes: Cutting back on alcohol and caffeine, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce snoring and apneas. Sleeping on your side instead of your back can help keep your airway open.
• Positive airway pressure devices: Continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure, CPAP and BiPAP, respectively. These machines provide air pressure through your mouth or nose while you sleep. These are the most common treatments for OSA.
• Inspire® implanted device: We insert one implant near your collarbone and another beneath your jawline. It sends pulses to your airway muscles to help keep the airway open.
• Tonsil and adenoid removal: Kids with snoring and OSA may have enlarged tonsils and adenoids (tissue behind the nose). Removing these can help improve sleep.
• Oral devices: We may refer you to a dentist or orthodontist to custom-fit a device to your mouth. These either hold the lower jaw in place or hold the tongue in a forward position. Both types keep the airway open.