Sleep Apnea 101
What everyone should know about this common sleep disorder. By Shanti Argue
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leep apnea is a pervasive, potentially dangerous disorder that deserves wider public awareness and understanding. An estimated 80% of moderate to severe cases go undiagnosed, and this sleep disorder can wreak havoc on longevity and quality of life. Thomas Penzel, PhD of Charité Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine in Berlin, defines sleep apnea as “respiratory cessations during sleep,” meaning breathing actually stops for 10 seconds or more. As a prominent sleep researcher, physician and author, Dr. Penzel points out that people are not consciously aware of these pauses, but they can happen hundreds of times a night leading to fragmented sleep. Thomas Penzel, PhD PERSISTENT, UNEXPLAINED FATIGUE If sleep apnea is present, a full night’s sleep is rarely restorative. Dr. Penzel says patients might see “no improvement, even when taking naps in the daytime.” Untreated sleep apnea can sap the energy and enjoyment from daily life through mood swings, daytime sleepiness and loss of libido.
DAILY DANGERS Dr. Penzel warns drowsiness can lead to work and traffic accidents, poor job performance and cardiovascular complications. Unchecked, sleep apnea can lead to diabetes, obesity and depression. HEART DISEASE Dr. Penzel has investigated the cardiovascular risks associated with untreated sleep apnea. He cites high blood pressure, the potential for stroke and even myocardial infarction (heart attack) as compelling reasons to take sleep apnea seriously. Long term, overlooked sleep apnea can cause premature death. UNDERSTANDING APNEA TYPES The most common, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when structures in the mouth or throat— such as the tongue or tonsils—relax during sleep and block the airway.
In other words, something is physically in the way of breathing. Less commonly, Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) happens when the brain sends insufficient breathing signals to the body. Simply put, this type originates in the brain, rather than the airway. SEVERITY While apnea means “stop breathing,” hypopnea means “reduction in airflow.” Doctors analyze patient data into an Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI). A patient’s AHI is the number of events (apnea or hypopnea) per hour of sleep. Adult AHI Ranges • Mild: AHI between 5-15 events per hour • Moderate: AHI between 15-30 events per hour • Severe: AHI greater than 30 events per hour 11 | January/February 2021
