lung and airway disorders
Sleep Apnea
Types of Sleep Apnea
There aretwo types of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea Central sleep apnea Some people have a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea. People who have excessive daytime sleepiness and who snore should discuss these symptoms with their doctor. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep apnea, is caused by repeated closure of the throat or upper airway during sleep. The upper airway includes the passageway from mouth and nostrils to throat and down to voice box, and these structures may change position as a person breathes. This type of apnea affects the health and well being of about 8 to 16% of adults. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in people with obesity. Doctors diagnose obstructive sleep apnea when the following occur: Breathing is interrupted during sleep There are 5 or more breathing interruptions per hour Each interruption lasts for more than 10 seconds increase the likelihood of obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity , perhaps in combination with aging and other factors, leads to narrowing of the upper airway. Excessive use of alcohol and use of sedatives worsen obstructive sleep apnea. Having a narrow throat, thick neck, and round head—features that tend to run in families—increases the risk of sleep apnea. Low levels of thyroid hormone ( People with obstructive sleep apnea should avoid alcohol and sedating drugs, particularly before bedtime. In children, Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids in Children , some dental conditions (such as a large overbite), Most affected children snore. Other sleep symptoms may include restless sleep and sweating at night. Some children wet the bed. Daytime symptoms may include mouth breathing, morning headache, and problems concentrating. Learning and some behavior problems (such as hyperactivity) are often common symptoms of severe obstructive sleep apnea in children. Children may also have growth delays. Excessive daytime sleepiness is less common in children than among adults with obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is rare, compared to obstructive sleep apnea. It is caused by a problem with the control of breathing in the part of the brain called the brain stem. Normally, the brain stem is very sensitive to changes in the blood level of carbon dioxide (a by-product of the body's normal chemical reactions). When carbon dioxide levels are high, the brain stem signals the respiratory muscles to breathe deeper and faster to remove carbon dioxide through exhalation, and vice versa. In central sleep apnea, the brain stem does not respond appropriately to changes in the carbon dioxide level. As a consequence, during sleep, people who have central sleep apnea may have pauses in their breathing or may breathe less deeply and more slowly than normal. There are many reasons why the brain stem may not send out appropriate breathing signals. For example, a Overview of Stroke , brain infection ( In one form of central sleep apnea, called Ondine curse, which usually occurs in newborns, people may breathe inadequately or not at all except when they are fully awake. Ondine curse can be fatal. 