Dr. Avi Weisfogel: The Basics of Sleep Apnea

According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults will require 7 to 10 hours of sleep. In reality, however, there are millions of people who seldom maintain such a sleeping schedule. Some may not be able to do so due to a busy lifestyle. Others, unfortunately, could be suffering from a condition called sleep apnea.

Contrary to the popular belief, sleep apnea is not just another form of insomnia. It is a disorder where one's breathing while they sleep is constantly disrupted and unexpectedly starts or stops. Due to that, depending on how serious it is, it can easily be deadly. Although there are a lot of symptoms that could indicate sleep apnea, people will experience one of the three forms of this condition.

Obstructive, Central, and Complex

Obstructive sleep apnea is probably the most common form of the disorder. It is caused by the relaxation of the muscles in one's throat. Once that happens, they may find it very difficult to breathe and start gasping for air. The second type is called the central sleep apnea. It is labeled as such due to its relationship with the central nervous system. Meaning, the brain does not send the necessary signals to the muscles in charge of breathing.

Ultimately, according to Dr. Avi Weisfogel, both of the previous disorders could be happening simultaneously. In that case, the patient has the most worrisome type of sleep apnea that is called "complex". With many years of experience in sleep treatment and disorders, Dr. Avi Weisfogel classifies the complex sleep apnea as the most deadly.

Underlying Causes

There is an extensive list that showcases all the underlying causes of sleep apnea. One of the most common variables, however, is tied to the excessive weight of the patient. The reason why is the fact that the fat accumulates in the upper airway. As a consequence, breathing may be affected, and one could develop the obstructive form of sleep apnea.

Also, consider how common obesity is in the United States, it is fair to say that this causes the vast majority of sleep apnea diagnoses. Even here in Brooklyn, for instance, as many as 34 percent of all residents are overweight.

Other Factors

Although excessive weight is one of the leading causes, there are many more inputs that must be accounted for. For instance, just being male means that one is three times more likely to develop sleep apnea. This is because men are the vast majority of all patients that are diagnosed and treated for the disorder. Additionally, having a family history, smoking, drinking, or using narcotics all contribute to sleep apnea as well.

People suffering from the more serious forms, which include the central and complex sleep apnea, may have experience with the following:

• Stroke;
• Heart Problems;
• Daytime Fatigue;
• Diabetes;
• Metabolic Syndrome;
• Liver Issues.

The reason why the aforementioned problems relate to the more serious forms of sleep apnea is due to the brain's involvement. Meaning, someone who might have suffered from a stroke is that much more likely to have problems with their central nervous system.

Screening for Sleep Apnea

In order for a physician to determine if the patient has sleep apnea, there is a long series of tests that must take place. First, there will be a simple questionnaire that will allow the doctor to rule out other conditions. These include, but are not limited to, things like insomnia, narcolepsy, sleepwalking, night terror, and more.

After the initial screening, the patient will likely need to undergo certain tests that monitor their sleeping habits. The main difference between the possible tests that one can do depends on the location. Meaning, people will either do their monitored sleep at the hospital or at their home. In both scenarios, they will be exposed to equipment that monitors one's breathing, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and so on.

Once the necessary tests are completed, the doctor will determine if the condition is indeed sleep apnea or one of the aforementioned disorders. After that, the treatment that combines various drugs and even medical devices like a CPAP mask will be implemented.