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Are you frequently awakened through the night due to your partner’s loud snoring or sudden gasping sounds? Do you remember sleeping through the night but experience chronic exhaustion during the day? If you answered yes, then it is possible you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that can drastically reduce your enjoyment of life and cause unnecessary stress on an otherwise healthy relationship. Below are common questions about sleep apnea to help you better understand the disorder and inform you about treatment steps you can take.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder caused by an individual being unable to breathe while sleeping due to an impediment blocking the airway or the brain failing to regulate breathing muscles. Over 20 million Americans are affected but few seek treatment for the disease.

What are common sleep apnea symptoms?

Even though many American men and women are affected by sleep apnea, few seek professional treatment. Common symptoms include:

• Chronic morning headaches (although this may also be related to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
• Daytime tiredness even though you felt like you received a full night of sleep
• Loud snoring
• Irritability
• Inability to remain asleep throughout the evening
• Hearing a partner wake with a sudden choking or gasping sound

Am I at risk of developing sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea can afflict any individual at any age. However, certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing the condition, including:

• Old age
• Genetics
• Gender
• Obesity
• Smoking
• High blood pressure

Does everyone who suffers from sleep apnea experience the same symptoms?

No. While symptoms may overlap, three types of sleep apnea exist and influence potential symptoms.

The types of sleep apnea are:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Those who suffer from this type of sleep apnea will awaken with a sudden gasping or choking noise. This experience is not remembered and victims believe they had a full night’s sleep. An airway obstruction reduces brain oxygen levels until the brain rouses you from sleep to clear the impediment.
• Central Sleep Apnea – Victims of central sleep apnea are roused from sleep due to the brain failing to regulate breathing muscles. Men and women who suffer from this form of sleep apnea remember waking.
• Complex Sleep Apnea – A combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea.

What treatment options are available for sleep apnea?

For victims of obstructive sleep apnea, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform bimaxillary surgery (orthognathic surgery), which will adjust the tongue muscles in order to move the tongue forward. This procedure will provide an adequate gap between the tongue and throat in order to prevent future obstruction.

If you suffer from mild sleep apnea, you can attempt behavioral changes in order to minimize suffering, such as:

• Losing weight
• Adjusting sleep positions
• Reducing alcohol intake before bedtime
• Not taking sleeping pills before sleeping

If you believe that you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea and live in the Washington, D.C. or northern Virginia area, please contact NOVA SurgiCare, PC today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hamrah.