What is sleep apnea?

Have you ever woken up in the night gasping for air? Has your partner noticed you snoring louder than usual? Do you wake up with headaches or a sore throat? While symptoms like these are often dismissed or misdiagnosed, they could be signs of a serious sleep condition. You may have heard of sleep apnea or seen people sleeping with CPAP machines, but what is sleep apnea, really?

Sleep apnea is more than just insomnia, snoring, and fatigue. It’s estimated that 30 million Americans are living with sleep apnea, yet only 6 million of them have been diagnosed. With a lack of awareness around this pervasive condition, it’s more important than ever to understand: what is sleep apnea?

What are the different types?

According to sleep physician and neurologist Dr. Guy Leschziner, “Sleep apnea encapsulates a group of conditions that result in abnormal breathing at night.” It can be caused by a few different factors, but the end result is recurring episodes of apnea, where a patient stops breathing during sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

The first and most common form is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). “When we talk about sleep apnea, we’re usually referring to obstructive sleep apnea, which refers to a mechanical disruption of the upper airway in sleep. As we go to sleep, the musculature that is part of the structure of the airway tends to relax a little bit, and we know that this is worse in particular stages of sleep.” 

This physical obstruction blocks the flow of air and creates hypoxia, depriving the brain of oxygen. Multiple physical factors can contribute to OSA, from obesity to anatomical abnormalities and even stages of sleep. “In REM sleep, the stage of sleep that we most associate with dreaming, our muscles lose significant tone. In fact, most of the muscles in our bodies are paralysed,” says Leschziner. 

“Essentially, as a result of this loss in muscle tone and muscle strength, the airway becomes a little more floppy; it becomes less rigid. As a result of that, and also the tendency of the tongue to drop back within the throat, particularly when we're lying flat on our back, there is a mechanical narrowing of that airway, and if that's significant enough, it can cause an increased resistance to breathing and can disrupt sleep. If it's very severe, it can obstruct the airway completely and result in something called apnea, where there is complete obstruction with a prolonged period of breath holding.”

Central sleep apnea (CSA)

“The other form of sleep apnea that we talk about is central sleep apnea, which is much rarer and is when the mechanisms that the brain utilizes in order to maintain breathing don't work properly. So, that can be as a result of neurological or cardiological issues, but it's much, much rarer.” In fact, CSA is so rare that it comprises less than 1% of diagnosed cases. While CSA may have a different root cause than OSA, the long-term effects and risks are still the same. Another important factor to note is that patients with central sleep apnea may not have some of the most common symptoms, such as snoring or a sore throat.

Wondering if sleep apnea is affecting you? Take a few seconds to check out the Dumbo Health Sleep Quiz, and with a few simple questions, you can begin your treatment journey today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sleep apnea in simple terms?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night. These pauses, called apneas, can last several seconds or longer and may occur dozens of times an hour, disrupting your sleep and lowering oxygen levels.

What causes sleep apnea?

The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), happens when the muscles in the throat relax too much, narrowing or blocking the airway. Other causes include obesity, enlarged tonsils, jaw structure, sleeping on your back, or alcohol use. Central sleep apnea (CSA), which is much rarer, happens when the brain fails to send breathing signals to the muscles.

How do I know if I have sleep apnea?

Common symptoms include loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep (often noticed by a partner), waking up gasping or choking, frequent night wakings, morning headaches, daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating. If you notice these signs, talk to a doctor about a sleep study.

Read more: Obstructive sleep apnea in adults: Symptoms, causes & solutions

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually involves a sleep study (polysomnography) in a lab or a home sleep apnea test. These tests measure breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and brain activity overnight to confirm how often breathing is interrupted.

Buy our At-Home Sleep Study.  It is a simple, one night test designed to measure key signals related to obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA 

Is sleep apnea dangerous?

Yes. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cognitive decline. It also increases the risk of car accidents due to daytime fatigue.

Read more: 8 Long-term consequences of sleep apnea

Can sleep apnea be cured?

While there’s no guaranteed permanent cure for adults, sleep apnea is highly treatable. Treatments include CPAP therapy, oral appliances, weight loss, positional therapy, and in some cases, surgery. For children, removing enlarged tonsils or adenoids can often cure the condition.

Does everyone who snores have sleep apnea?

No. While snoring is a common symptom, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, loud, chronic snoring (especially if paired with gasping, choking, or daytime sleepiness) should be evaluated by a doctor.

Wondering if sleep apnea is affecting you? Take a few seconds to check out the Dumbo Health Sleep Quiz, and with a few simple questions, you can begin your treatment journey today.