What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when an individual stops breathing repeatedly during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. To counter each sleep apnea occurrence, the brain briefly rouses an individual from sleep to help trigger breathing, resulting in fragmented sleep that leaves the individual unrested. Sleep apnea is quite common, affecting more than 12 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.

There are three types of sleep apnea, including:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) The most common type of sleep apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition resulting from a blockage or obstruction of the airway during sleep. Most obstructions to the airway during sleep are caused by soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapsing, cutting off air flow through the nose, mouth and throat.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) Unlike Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Central Sleep Apnea is not a result of an airway blockage or obstruction, rather is caused by a central nervous system condition where the brain fails to instruct the muscles used for breathing to function properly, if at all. Central Sleep Apnea can be caused by conditions such as a stroke, brain tumor, viral brain infection or a chronic respiratory disease.

Mixed Sleep Apnea (MSA) Mixed Sleep Apnea is a condition that combines the causes of both Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea, where an airway obstruction occurs in addition to the brain failing to initiate the breathing muscles to function.

Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
The majority of individuals suffering from sleep apnea remain undiagnosed and untreated. While sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, including children, the following common risk factors associated with sleep apnea may help you determine if you might be suffering from this condition.

• Being overweight or obese
• Being over the age of forty
• Being male
• Large tonsils or adenoids (the prominent oval masses of lymphoid tissues on either side of the throat)
• Physical characteristics such as a deviated septum, receding chin or enlarged tongue
• Nasal congestion or blockage due to a cold, sinusitis, allergies or smoking 
• Overly relaxed throat muscles or tongue during sleep (due to alcohol or sedative use or age)

Health Effects of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, if untreated, can lead to serious health consequences, including:

• Sleep deprivation • High blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease • A compromised immune system • Learning/memory problems • Poor mental or emotional health • Irritability • Weight gain • Impotency or sexual dysfunction • Headaches • Risk of job impairment and/or motor vehicle crashes due to sleep deprivation

Podcast: Sleep Apnea Raises Risk for Death