Any resident can suffer from sleep apnea – even children. However, research shows, the older you get, the more likely you are to suffer from this common sleep disorder. In fact, the website SleepApnea.org reports that the condition is most common in males over age 40.
Studies show that patients who develop sleep apnea before the age of fifty have a life expectancy between 8 and 18 years. Fortunately lifestyle changes, treatment, and other interventions can improve the life expectancy of someone with sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when a child stops breathing during sleep. The cessation of breathing usually occurs because there is a blockage (obstruction) in the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea affects many children and is most commonly found in children between 2 and 6 years of age, but can occur at any age.
The first stage of sleep apnea is benign snoring. Benign snoring is often harmless, but it can be an indication that sleep apnea will develop in the future.
Even though the symptoms can be treated, usually with the help of oral appliances, CPAP machines, or other forms of sleep apnea therapy, the condition itself is chronic and cannot be cured entirely. This means that your best bet is mitigating the symptoms and making lifestyle changes to lessen its effect on you.
CPAP is more commonly used because it's been well studied for obstructive sleep apnea and has been shown to effectively treat the condition. People who have difficulty tolerating fixed CPAP might want to try BPAP or APAP . Don't stop using your positive airway pressure machine if you have problems.
More than usual daytime sleepiness. Waking up with a dry throat or headache. Waking up often during the night. Difficulty concentrating or mood changes during the day.
Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder that can occur every night. It can impact your breathing as you sleep and even interrupt your breathing hundreds of times in a night.
Yes. While many people who have sleep apnea are overweight, others are quite fit.
Statistical analysis showed that sleep apnea was significantly associated with both insomnia and high levels of stress. They found that high stress levels were associated with a 50% higher risk of sleep apnea.
There is good news. Upper airway stimulation therapy using a hypoglossal nerve stimulator is an option for people who are unable to tolerate their CPAPs. It's been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
When OSA is not treated, it can also interfere with the normal functions of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. This may provoke abnormalities in a person's heart rhythms and other problems that can cause sudden cardiac death.
Sleeping on your back often worsens apnea, while sleeping on your side may lesson episodes of apnea. When you are lying on your back, your tongue and soft palate tend to fall back to the throat, which can increase breathing difficulties.
With CPAP therapy, you can live a long, healthy life, and there is even a range of CPAP alternatives for those with mild or moderate sleep apnea that may serve as an effective treatment, too.
Sleeping on Your Side. Side sleeping is better for reducing sleep apnea than back sleeping. Research shows that in many cases, sleeping on your side can significantly reduce breathing disruptions. View Source from both OSA and CSA.
There are also commonly known foods that cause inflammation and should be avoided according to Dr. May: “Foods that may aggravate sleep apnea include bananas, sugary processed foods, and fatty meats like burgers and sausage.”
There are available treatments—other than CPAP
That can include cutting back on or avoiding alcohol, losing weight, and quitting smoking. Oral appliances, which are devices placed in your mouth to keep the airways open, may be prescribed.
“It's easy to forget to bring up these symptoms at your annual checkup, but you have to tell your doctor,” says Dr. Foldvary. “Otherwise, sleep apnea can be missed for many, many years.” It's quite likely that your doctor won't ask you about sleep apnea, she says.
Obstructive sleep apnea is classified by severity: Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15.
Foods to Avoid If You Have Sleep Apnea
People with sleep apnea are already at an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. Eating fatty or highly processed meats like bacon, sausage, salami, ham, and hot dogs can increase your chances of heart trouble.
Not drinking enough water can dry your nasal passages which lead to extensive snoring at night. Meanwhile, dehydration and sleep apnea have a reciprocal relationship. Dehydration is common among sleep apnea patients because it consumes more oxygen and water.