SLEEP APNEA FACT SHEET

• Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.

• "Apnea" is a Greek word meaning "without breath." An apnea is clinically defined as a cessation of breath that lasts at least ten seconds.

• "Hypopnea" also comes from Greek: "hypo" meaning "beneath" or "less than normal" and "pnea" meaning "breath." A hypopnea is not a complete cessation of breath but can be defined as a perceptible reduction in airflow that leads to sleep fragmentation or to a decrease in the oxygen level in the bloodstream.

• The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) or respiratory disturbance index (RDI) refers to the total number of apneas and hypopneas divided by the total sleep study in a patient’s sleep study. The AHI gives one measure of the severity of the sleep apnea.

• There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed (a combination of obstructive and central). Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common.

• Typically the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes the airway, forcing victims of sleep apnea to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, as frequently as a hundred.

• Although the typical sleep apnea patent is overweight, male, and over the age of forty, sleep apnea affects both males and females of all ages and of ideal weight.

• The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (i.e., falling asleep easily and sometimes inappropriately).

• Untreated sleep apnea can be life threatening; consequences may include high blood pressure and other cardiovascular complications.

• More than twelve million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and it is estimated conservatively that ten million remain undiagnosed.

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

• Some studies have shown that a family history of sleep apnea increases the risk of OSA two to four times.

• Being overweight is a risk factor for OSA, as is having a large neck. However, not all with sleep apnea are obese. For more information, read Sleep Apnea and BMI: The Majority of OSA Patients Are Not Obese.

• Sleep apnea is more likely to occur in men than in women.

• Abnormalities of the structure of the upper airway contribute to sleep apnea.

• Sleep apnea may be more common among African-Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Mexicans.

• Smoking and alcohol use increase the risk of sleep apnea.

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

• There are a variety of treatments for sleep apnea. The most appropriate treatment depends on an individual’s medical history and the severity of the disorder.

• Treatment regimens included lifestyle changes such as avoiding alcohol, oral appliances, and surgery.

• Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. The CPAP machine pushes air through the airway at a pressure high enough to keep the airway open during sleep.

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