Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops and restarts many times while you sleep. When this happens, the body tends to receive less oxygen. It’s usually the one sleeping next to you who tells you that you snore or gasp for air during your sleep.
Several underlying factors contribute to sleep apnea, such as age, sex, and weight of the patient. However, knowing about all the types of sleep apnea is important for seeking the right medical care.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Knowing about the different types of sleep apnea can help a person identify the problem that they themselves have and seek medical attention accordingly. There are three types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- Central sleep apnea (CSA)
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
This is the most common type of sleep apnea, and it occurs when there is an obstruction in the mouth and throat. It happens when your upper airway gets blocked many times while you are asleep. Research has shown that between 4% and 50% of the population has OSA, and the prevalence of sleep apnea depends on several factors. Those factors include obesity, large tonsils, or changes in hormone levels.
Symptoms of OSA include:
- Snoring or gasping for air while you sleep
- Waking during sleep
- Daytime fatigue
- Frequent headaches
- Confused or unable to concentrate at school or work
- Waking up while panicking
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
This type of sleep apnea also inhibits breathing at night. However, it does not occur due to upper airway obstruction. Instead, it is caused by a neural signal. Unlike OSA, there is no snoring as the body stops trying to breathe. The nervous system and the brain stop sending the body signals to breathe, which is why the person stops breathing for a while.
There are no definite symptoms, but you may notice:
- Insomnia
- Daytime fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Waking up short of breath or feeling panicky
Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, is the combination of both types of sleep apnea described above. It happens when someone who has OSA converts to CSA while receiving therapy for OSA.
The symptoms are similar to OSA, which include:
- Daytime fatigue
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Poor sleep quality
- Briefly waking up from sleep
Final Thoughts
Sleep apnea has the ability to affect the quality of a person’s life as it includes the risk factors of many different lethal illnesses. It is crucial to understand which type of sleep apnea you might have in order to figure out the right treatment method.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, consult a doctor at Village Park Family Dentist of Cypress. Request an appointment by calling us at (281) 376-4444.