Sleep Apnea Page What is Sleep Apnea? The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. The only way to learn which type you have, and the severity, is by having a Sleep Study or Polysomnogram (PSG). Sleep apnea is very common — as common as adult diabetes. It affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet, because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority of people remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences. What are the Symptoms? Loud, chronic snoring Choking or gasping during sleep Morning headaches Memory or learning problems Feeling irritable Poor concentration Changes in mood, depression Dry throat / mouth on awakening Feeling unrefreshed the next day Difficulty keeping awake What are the Causes? Weight gain and loss of muscle tone due to aging are the major causes. However, many people just have a very high tongue position and a narrow airway. The tongue falling back and closing off the airway causes the apnea. If the tongue is large and sits high and the airway is at all constricted, it is very easy for this to occur. What can happen if left untreated? Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, arrhythmia and other cardiovascular diseases, memory problems, depression, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Contact us for more info