A Closer Look At Sleep Apnea Causes
Sleep apnea causes is what many people have been struggling to find out so as to get the right treatment for the disorder. This is a sleep disorder that occurs when breathing gets interrupted during sleep. There are several things that lead to this condition. During sleep, some people may experience relaxation of the throat muscles and the tongue hence blocking the airway opening partially. The relaxation of the muscles at the base of the tongue and uvula causes the blockage the airway opening. This result in a person’s breathing becoming noisy and difficult at the same time. The following are some of the sleep apnea causes:
Excessive Fat or Obesity
Overweight people have too much soft tissue in their airway thus making it to narrow down. So, as much as they try to breathe in and out normally, it becomes difficult for air to smoothly flow in and out of the nose or mouth. The affected person, due to the fact that he or she is asleep, does not realize that he or she is experiencing breathing problems or snoring loudly. As a result, the person tends to move from deep sleep to light sleep frequently. It has been estimated that almost 70% of the people suffering from obese suffer from this disorder.
Consumption of Alcohol and Use of Drugs
In vulnerable people, such as the aged, alcohol and drugs causes relaxation of breathing system muscles hence causing this sleep disorder. The use of sleeping pills and consumption of alcohol will increase the possible length and frequency of time of the breathing pauses for a person with sleep apnea.
Individual Physical Characteristics
Distinct physical characteristics such as deviated septum, receding chin, enlarged tongue and the general shape of the head and neck also causes sleep apnea.
- Tonsils and large adenoids. These two conditions can cause nasal blockage resulting to sleep apnea. Additionally, nasal blockage can occur due to smoking, colds or sinusitis.
- Thyroid gland diseases are also a major cause of this condition.
What Causes Central Sleep Apnea?
This type of disorder occurs due to the brain failing to send signals to the breathing muscles. As a result, the muscles relax, leading to the constriction of the airway which prevents smooth flow of air in and out of the lungs. The affected individual abruptly wakes up, experiencing shortness of breath. In this case, once the person is awakened, it becomes difficult for the individual to get back to sleep. Central sleep apnea patients are more likely remember sleep interruptions, unlike obstructive sleep apnea patients.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
This is a helpful list of the causes but is not limited to;
- Obesity
- Use of sedatives
- Big overbite
- Round head
- Micrognathia
- A deviated septum that can lead to upper airway congestion
- Acromegaly
- Retrognathia
- Growth of a tumor in the airway
- Reduced muscle tone because of a neurological disorder, drugs or alcohol
- Narrow throat
- Neuromuscular disorders affecting the airway muscles
- Brain injury
- Down syndrome or Pierre-Robin syndrome
- Smoking
Sleep apnea causes irritability, depression, sexual problems, and memory and learning issues. Mostly, the spouses of those suffering from the condition may be the first people to notice this problem. A struggle to breathe and loud snoring during the night is a good indication of the emergence of the problem.
The most effective treatment for sleep apnea which most people find comfortable is a sleep apnea mouth guard. Many sleep apnea sufferers have found a great source of relief from their conditions with this device
Regardless of what the causes and symptoms of central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are, it is advisable to seek treatment immediately. In fact, sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness which can mess up your work and cause depression and road accidents plus a number of fatal health problems such as heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure. Therefore, identifying the sleep apnea causes and cures can enable one to get treated at the earliest because if delayed, this problem can worsen and cause more lethal disorders.