What is Sleep Apnea? Causes, Symptoms, AHI Scores, and Modern CPAP Treatment
Key Takeaways
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Affecting over 30 million people, the disorder involves breathing stops (apneas) that disrupt sleep and lead to major long-term health risks.
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Sleep Apnea is diagnosed and measured by the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI); a score over 30 indicates Severe Sleep Apnea.
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), often via a self-adjusting APAP machine, effectively holds the airway open, eliminating breathing events and restoring restorative sleep.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects approximately 22 million Americans. The word apnea comes from the Greek word “apnoia” which means “without breath.” Therefore, this is a disorder with which an individual stops breathing while asleep. The most common reason for this pause in breathing is an obstruction of the airway (collapsed throat muscles, enlarged tonsils, etc). This is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Many people living with OSA do not realize they have it and remain undiagnosed and untreated for years. Some choose to rationalize their exhaustion through their busy way of life or a demanding job. Most frequently, bed partners are the ones who realize that something is not right. OSA patients can wake up more than 30 times per hour, in severe cases, gasping for air. This will often prompt bed partners to suggest a trip to the doctor.
This disorder has been linked to many other serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and stroke.
What Are the Types of Sleep Apnea?
Know the different types of this medical condition to best understand your diagnosis and treatment:
- Obstructive: caused when your airway closes while you sleep
- Central: caused when the brain briefly stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing
- Mixed or Complex: This is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA occurs when throat muscles periodically relax during sleep, closing the airway and causing breathing to stop. These episodes are called apneas and if frequent enough, can interrupt healthy sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea
Unlike OSA which occurs in the airway, central sleep apnea begins in the brain. When the brain signals necessary for breathing are interrupted periodically, breathing stops.
Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea
Some patients may experience a combination of OSA and central sleep apnea, meaning that the problem occurs both in the brain and in the throat muscles.
How Do You Know If You Have Sleep Apnea?
This disorder is often related to snoring, but snoring is only one symptom. Look for a variety of red flags that may indicate sleep apnea. It requires a proper medical diagnosis. To see if you may be at risk, consult your doctor, or take a one-minute questionnaire. If your doctor thinks you may have OSA, they may write a referral for a sleep study. Traditional sleep studies usually take place in overnight labs, but more frequently, patients are turning to at-home sleep testing.Â
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Night Symptoms (Sleeping habits)
- Frequent occurrences where you awake gasping for air
- Loud snoring throughout the night
Daytime Symptoms
- Daytime drowsiness
- Morning headaches and dry mouth
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or focusing during the day
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Home Sleep Apnea Test
You can get a sleep apnea diagnosis in the comfort of your own bed with an at-home test. At Sleep Care Online you receive at-home sleep apnea testing that includes expert consultation and access to treatment all without visiting a doctor’s office.
Polysomnography
Polysomnography is a clinical sleep study conducted away from home. Sleep technicians monitor your sleep overnight using diagnostics ranging from brain wave analysis to eye movement. This more intensive sleep testing may be necessary for diagnosing more complex cases of this condition.
Health Risk Factors Associated with Sleep Apnea
Living with this condition untreated for any length of time may be compromising your health. This disorder causes sleep deprivation which impacts both your physical and mental well-being.
Physical Health and Sleep Apnea
Long-term health issues from lack of healthy sleep include:
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart problems
Mental Health and Sleep Apnea
Your mental health is also impacted which may lead to:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Memory problems
How to Fix Sleep Apnea?
OSA can be managed through lifestyle changes and PAP therapy. In some instances, oral appliances or surgery can help correct the problem.
Exercise
A regular exercise program can improve sleep quality. Walking for 45-60 minutes per day, light jogging, or moderate resistance training can all help improve sleep quality as well as overall health.
- Exercise during the day helps prepare the body for healthy sleep at night
Reduced Smoking and Drinking
For those who already experience these episodes, both smoking and drinking can increase the severity of your symptoms, and possibly make your condition worse. Try reducing the amount of alcohol you consume and cutting back on tobacco use to see some improvements in your symptoms.
- Quitting smoking can alleviate the inflammation in the throat lining that can cause apneas
- Quitting drinking eliminates the stimulative effects of alcohol which can disrupt healthy sleep
Obesity Control
One of the primary comorbidities associated with sleep apnea is obesity. As more fat accumulates around the neck and throat, the greater the chances of your airway collapsing as you sleep. Improving your diet and losing even a small amount of weight can lead to great improvements in your condition.
- Reducing weight can also reduce the fatty tissue around the neck which also contributes to OSA
Other Lifestyle Changes
Making other lifestyle changes such as diet, reducing stress, and adhering to your PAP therapy can help reduce the symptoms of this disorder.
- A healthier diet can help you lose weight which improves healthy sleep
- Meditation and other practices to reduce stress can help you sleep better
- Staying CPAP compliant helps prevent apneas for a more peaceful rest every night
How to Treat Sleep Apnea
PAP, or therapy or positive airways therapy, is the most common method for treating sleep apnea. Doctors may also recommend oral appliances and surgery when PAP therapy is not enough.
Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Therapy
PAP therapy is available in three different ways:
- CPAP (continuous positive air pressure)-uses a continuous air pressure flow from a CPAP machine to keep your airway open while you sleep.
- APAP ( automatic positive air pressure)- uses an adjusting air pressure flow that adapts to breathing needs. APAP machines may be necessary for more complex conditions or for patients who have difficulty with CPAP.
- BiPAP (bi-level positive air pressure) uses two pressure levels during inhalation and exhalation to better adapt to specific breathing needs.
Oral Appliances
For mild cases of sleep apnea, an oral appliance worn at night helps prevent the tongue from blocking the throat to prevent apneas.
Surgery
Surgery is another option for sleep apnea patients. By removing or repositioning tissues around the throat, doctors can eliminate the cause of sleep apnea. Surgery may be recommended in cases where patients are born with abnormalities in throat tissue structure.
Sleep Apnea is one of the most common and serious sleep disorders, affecting an estimated 30 million adults in the United States. Despite its prevalence, millions remain undiagnosed, often rationalizing their severe daytime exhaustion, loud snoring, and morning headaches as simple stress or aging.
The term "apnea" comes from the Greek word apnoia, meaning "without breath." In the context of sleep, it is a medical disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Understanding which type of apnea you have and what your severity score means is the first step toward reclaiming your health and restful nights.
The Three Types of Sleep Apnea
While all forms of sleep apnea involve a cessation of breath, the underlying causes are different:
1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
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The Cause: OSA is the most common type. It occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax excessively, causing the soft tissues (like the tongue and soft palate) to collapse and physically block the airway.
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The Result: This blockage prevents air from entering the lungs. The stoppage ends when your brain senses the lack of oxygen and briefly wakes you to reopen the airway—often with a loud gasp, snort, or choke—which you rarely remember.
2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
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The Cause: Unlike OSA, which is a structural problem, CSA is a communication problem. It occurs when the brain fails to send the necessary signals to the muscles controlling breathing.
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The Result: There is no attempt to breathe for a period, though the airway remains open. CSA is often linked to underlying medical conditions like heart failure or certain neurological disorders.
3. Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea
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The Cause: This is a combination of both OSA and CSA. In these cases, the patient may initially experience an obstructive event, which is then followed by a central event.
Symptoms and How Sleep Apnea is Measured
A proper diagnosis is achieved via a Sleep Study (Polysomnography or Home Sleep Test), which calculates the severity of your disorder using the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI).
Key Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
| Nighttime Symptoms: | Daytime Symptoms: |
| Loud, Chronic Snoring (often interrupted by silence) | Excessive daytime sleepiness (falling asleep easily) |
| Choking or gasping for air during sleep | Morning headaches and dry mouth/sore throat |
| Frequent awakenings to urinate (Nocturia) | Irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating |
| Restless sleep | Memory problems and brain fog |
Understanding Your AHI Score
The AHI measures the total number of Apneas (complete stops in breathing) and Hypopneas (partial reductions in breathing) that occur per hour of sleep. This score determines the severity:
| AHI Score (Events/Hour) | Severity Level |
| < 5 | Normal / None |
| 5 - 15 | Mild Sleep Apnea |
| 15 - 30 | Moderate Sleep Apnea |
| > 30 | Severe Sleep Apnea |
Modern Treatment Options
Untreated sleep apnea is a major risk factor for serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Fortunately, it is highly treatable.
CPAP Therapy
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard, first-line treatment for OSA. A CPAP machine delivers pressurized air through a hose and mask, creating an air splint that physically holds the airway open, preventing collapse.
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APAP (Auto-CPAP): Modern machines often use APAP technology, which automatically adjusts the pressure level moment-to-moment based on your breathing needs, maximizing comfort and effectiveness.
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BiPAP (Bi-Level PAP): Used for more severe cases or CSA, BiPAP delivers a higher pressure when inhaling and a lower pressure when exhaling.
Alternative Treatments
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Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT): For mild to moderate OSA, a custom-fitted mouth guard can reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open.
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Lifestyle Changes: Weight loss, avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bed, and positional therapy (sleeping on your side) can reduce the frequency and severity of apneas.
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Surgery: In rare or severe cases linked to specific anatomical obstructions, surgical procedures may be considered.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, seeking a diagnosis and adhering to therapy is the most important step you can take for your long-term health. To learn more about sleep apnea and CPAP therapy, our team is ready to help you! Contact the customer care team at The CPAP Shop by calling 866-414-9700.
