Sleep apnea: when breathing stops at night
Loud snoring is often treated as a joke. Sometimes, though, it's a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a common condition that can affect your heart, mood and safety.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
During sleep, the muscles in your throat relax. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the airway narrows or closes repeatedly, so breathing becomes shallow or stops for 10 seconds or more. Your oxygen levels dip and your brain briefly wakes you to reopen the airway, often without you remembering. This can happen dozens of times an hour.
Signs to watch for
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Someone noticing you stop breathing, gasp or choke in your sleep
- Waking with a dry mouth or headache
- Daytime sleepiness, even after a full night in bed
- Trouble concentrating, irritability or low mood
- Waking often to urinate at night
Risk factors
- Excess weight, particularly around the neck
- Being male, or postmenopausal for women
- Older age
- A family history
- Nasal congestion or large tonsils
- Alcohol or sedatives before bed
- Smoking
Why it matters
Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and drowsy-driving accidents. It also simply makes you feel worse day to day.
Diagnosis
Sleep apnea is diagnosed with a sleep study, either overnight in a sleep lab or with a simpler test you take home. Ask your doctor if you have symptoms.
Treatment
- CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure): a machine that gently blows air through a mask to keep your airway open. It's the most common and effective treatment, and newer masks are much more comfortable than older ones.
- Oral appliances made by a dentist to hold your jaw forward
- Weight loss, which can reduce or even resolve sleep apnea for some people
- Sleeping on your side, if your apnea is worse on your back
- Surgery or implanted devices for some people who can't use CPAP
Better sleep habits help everyone
Keep a regular schedule, avoid alcohol close to bedtime, keep your bedroom cool and dark, and treat nasal allergies (allergy guide).
HBOT is not a treatment for sleep apnea. If you think you may have it, see your doctor.