FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) What is a sleep disorder?
A sleep disorder (or somnipathy) is a medical disorder related to sleep patterns. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning. Among the most common of these are:
A) Insomnia: the most commonly known sleep disorder in young adults. It is characterized by the difficulty in falling sleep or remaining in sleep for a longer period of time. Insomnia can be caused by anxiety and depression. Women are more susceptible to having insomnia than the men. Melatonin is generally prescribed for the treatment of insomnia. Behavioral therapies and good sleep hygiene are known to work better as the treatment for insomnia.
B) Sleep Apnea: characterized by cessation of breath during sleep. Sleep apnea can be life threatening. At times, the breathlessness occurs so frequently that the person is unable to sleep. This occurs because at times the brain forgets to send the signals to the respiratory system to breathe. This may also cause snoring in some people. Treatment methods for sleep apnea include respiratory apparatus, behavioral methods and in some cases, surgery. Surgery is used to clear the obstruction in the airway passage of the respiratory system by trimming of excess tissue.
C) Narcolepsy: a sleeping disorder that impairs the ability of the central nervous system to regulate the sleeping pattern. It is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, hallucinations and a sudden short lived loss of muscle control. Narcolepsy can be a chronic sleeping disorder and can cause sleep paralysis in certain cases. Treatments for narcolepsy include counseling, behavioral therapies and medications for relaxation.
D) Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep (PLMS): Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder causing an almost irresistible urge to move the legs (or arms). The urge to move occurs when resting or lying down and is usually due to uncomfortable, tingly, or creeping sensations in the legs or affected limbs. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a related condition involving involuntary, rhythmic limb movements, either while asleep or when awake. While most people who have Restless Legs Syndrome also have PLMD, only some people with PLMD also have RLS. RLS can occur on its own or be related to other medical conditions, such as anemia, kidney disease, pregnancy, thyroid problems, Parkinson’s or alcoholism. RLS may run in families. Alternative therapies, lifestyle changes, and even nutritional supplements have proven helpful for RLS and PLMD sufferers.
E) Hypersomnia: Excessive sleep is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. Most people sleep the same hours, with some variation, each day. This usually entails between 7 and 10 hours of sleep per night. Individuals who require sleep during the day, or are very tired during the day even after sleeping at night, may be suffering from one of several types of sleep disorders.
2) What causes sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is defined as the cessation of breathing during sleep. Apnea specialists generally agree that there are three different types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of these three, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common; central sleep apnoea is rare; mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the previous two.
Obstructive sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep due to the obstruction and/or collapse of the upper airway (throat), usually accompanied by a reduction in blood oxygen saturation, and followed by an awakening to breathe. This is called an apnea event. Respiratory effort continues during the episodes of apnea.
Central Sleep Apnea: Central Sleep Apnea is defined as a neurological condition causing cessation of all respiratory effort during sleep, usually with decreases in blood oxygen saturation. If the brainstem center controlling breathing shuts down there's no respiratory effort and no breathing. The person is aroused from sleep by an automatic breathing reflex, so may end up getting very little sleep at all.
Mixed apnea: Mixed sleep apnea is an episode of mixed sleep apnea, and usually starts with a central component and then becomes obstructive in nature. Generally the central component of the apnea becomes less troublesome once the obstructive apnea is treated.
3) How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
People with sleep apnea generally have the following symptoms:
- Loud, frequent snoring: Snoring is associated with episodes of silence that may last from 10 seconds to as long as a minute or more. The end of an apnea episode is often associated with loud snores, gasps, moans, and mumblings. Not everyone who snores has apnea and not everyone with apnea necessarily snores (though most do). This is probably the best and most obvious indicator.
- Your bedmate indicates that you periodically stop breathing during your sleep or gasp for breath.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness/fatigue: Falling asleep when you don not intend to. This could be almost anytime you are sitting down, such as during a lecture, while watching TV, while sitting at a desk, and even while driving a car. Even if you don't literally fall asleep, excessive fatigue or sleepiness could be an indicator.
- Unrefreshing sleep with feelings of grogginess, dullness, morning headaches, severe dryness of the mouth.
- Body movements often accompany the awakenings at the end of each apnea episode.
4) How can I be unaware of these apnea episodes during my sleep?
Most people with sleep apnea do not remember waking up to breath during their sleep. The awakening episode is subtle and become an accepted part of their sleep cycle, but it is enough to disrupt the pattern of sleep, leading to an unhealthy lack of deep sleep or REM sleep, causing the individual to awaken feeling sleepy. Many apnea sufferers are unaware of their condition.
5) How should I proceed if I suspect that I have a sleep disorder?
Many doctors are not familiar with sleep disorders. Your doctor may refer you to a pulmonologist, or sleep disorders expert. If not, you might raise the subject yourself. If your doctor dismisses your concerns about a potential sleep disorder, you may want to consider getting a second opinion. Be sure you check with your insurance company to identify their policy on sleep disorder treatment.
6) What does it mean if I snore?
Snoring is caused by the relaxed tissues in the throat partially obstructing the breathing airway during sleep. The sound is created when air flow vibrates the relaxed tissue. Snoring has a variety of causes and contributing factors and can signify a larger, more serious sleep disorder, most notably obstructive sleep apnea. However there are several ways to help relieve your snoring:
- Manage your weight properly. Excess weight or obesity can contribute to snoring and puts greater strain on your respiratory functions.
- Quit smoking. The decreased lung capacity caused by smoking can effect snoring as well.
- If you sleep on your back, try sleeping on your side or stomach, or elevate the head of your bed.
- Use a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device to keep your airway open during sleep.
- Dental appliances similar to a mouth-guard can help open your airway by bringing your lower jaw forward during sleep.
- Surgery, including Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP), tonsillectomy, and adenoidectomy, to increase the size of your airway.
Yes. In rare cases sleep apnea can even be fatal. Sleep apnea has also been linked to high blood pressure and to increased chances of heart disease, stroke, and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Further, the continual lack of quality sleep can affect your life in many ways including depression, irritability, loss of memory, lack of energy, a high risk of auto and workplace accidents, and many other problems.
8) What treatments are available for OSA (obstructive sleep apnea)?
As with snoring, treatments for sleep apnea include weight loss, dental appliances, a CPAP breathing-assistance device and surgery. A sleep study can help to determine which course of treatment works best for you.
Where quality matters. 