Sleep Well Canada

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a breathing problem that only occurs when we sleep. The upper airway keeps blocking because the tongue and upper muscles in the throat relax causing an obstruction in breathing (apnea) lasting 10 – 60 seconds. This obstruction or pause in breathing occurs every 12 minutes and in severe cases as often as every 30 seconds. The pauses are followed by gasping, snoring, or thrashing around.

Who has Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

• OSA occurs in all age groups and both sexes but is more common in men. (It may be under-diagnosed in women.)
• Approximately 3 million Canadians have OSA: 4% of middle-aged men and 2% of middle-aged women.
• Incidence rises as we age with 25% of seniors (over 65) having OSA.
• People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those who snore loudly and also are overweight, or have high blood pressure, or have some physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway.
• Sleep apnea seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic basis
• Most people with OSA don’t know they have it, and are not treated.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea has already been described.

In Central Sleep Apnea, the brain fails to send the signals to inhale and exhale to the muscles that control the body’s breathing, causing the sleeper to miss one or more cycles of breathing. Patients with Central Sleep Apnea generally experience less sleepiness during the day than people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Mixed Sleep Apnea is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

What are the most common Symptoms?

• Snoring and pauses in breathing
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• High blood pressure
• Morning headaches
• Poor judgment or concentration

Higher risk people include those with obesity, a thick neck, and those who drink alcohol prior to bedtime. Unfortunately, only 5% of patients are diagnosed and treated for their obstructive sleep apnea. Please visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea

• Heart problems
• Heart attacks
• Poor quality of life
• High blood pressure
• Strokes
• Death
• Car accidents and work related accidents due to sleepiness

Currently, there is no cure for sleep apnea, so it is very important that you continue your therapy, whether by CPAP, BiPAP or oral appliances. If you stop therapy, your sleep apnea will come back.