The Causes of Sleep Apnea

The causes of Sleep Apnea (also known as Sleep Apnoea), vary depending on which particular form of this common sleep disorder you're suffering from.

The first two have their own individual causes, symptoms and risk factors, the third (Mixed Sleep Apnea) is a combination of the others two.

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Your airway may be blocked due to enlarged tonsils/adenoids/uvula (the soft tissue at the back of your throat), or sometimes weight gain can cause fat deposits to narrow your airways.

No matter which of the causes of sleep apnea is responsible for your blocked airways, the result is always the same - you're unable to breath through your nose or mouth and essentially you're suffocating!

However, after a period of time (usually between 10 & 20 seconds, but it can be as long as a minute or more) oxygen-deprivation forces you to awake, often gasping, choking and snorting. This is the snoring that is so characteristic of OSA.

This whole thing will repeat itself over and over again, every night, anywhere from 20 - 60 times AN HOUR! No wonder people suffering from sleep apnea are chronically exhausted.

Along with recognizable causes of sleep apnea, research has identified certain risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea. These include -

• Being male
  Men are significantly more likely to suffer from OSA than women.


• Being overweight
  Anyone who is overweight (particularly if it's significant, or they could be considered 'obese') is at an increased risk of OSA. Some studies show that approx 70% of obese people suffer from this sleeping disorder. The incidence and severity of the problem increases relation to the weight gain.


• Being African American
  Although not one of the causes of sleep apnea, being African-American increases a persons risk of suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, possibly by as much as two-and-a-half times! The reason for this is not yet known, but is the subject of research.


• Being a smoker
  People who are habitual smokers are more likely to suffer from OSA than non-smokers.


• Having certain health conditions
  Whether a particular health condition can be exclusively considered a sleep apnea CAUSE, or whether it may be a actually be a RESULT, or even both, is not always clear. However, research shows that people with heart or respiratory problems or high blood pressure are more at risk of OSA. Recent research also indicates that suffering from acid reflux (or GERD) can put you at risk of experiencing sleep apnea


• A family history of sleep apnea
  In recent years, doctors and scientists have begun to recognize that many sleep disorders can have a hereditary component. If your family has a history of Sleep Apnea (or even extra-loud 'snorers'), your risk could be up to 4 times higher than the average person.







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Causes of Central Sleep Apnea

In this, less common, form of the sleep disorder, the sleep apnea cause is the brain's failure to activate the mechanisms (nerves, muscles etc.) that control and regulate breathing.

In CSA, the causes of sleep apnea are less clear cut than in OSA. Central Sleep Apnea usually occurs as a result, or in relation to, other medical conditions.

In adults this may include certain chronic heart conditions, brainstem injuries or disease, stroke and some vascular and degenerative illnesses. It can also be caused by some medications or altitude changes.

In CSA you don't see (or hear!)the classic snoring/gasping/choking sounds that accompany obstructive sleep apnea, it results in irregular breathing rather than causing it to cease entirely.

The most common sleep apnea cause in CSA is heart failure, which accounts for 40 - 60% of sufferers.

Central sleep apnea can also occur in babies who are born prematurely, as their brains and reflexes are not fully mature. Most babies will outgrow this problem but need medical attention and monitoring to begin with.





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A third variation of this sleeping disorder is Mixed Sleep Apnea which presents as a mixture of both the above types. In most cases, symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea develop first, followed by those of Central Sleep Apnea.



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So, as you can see, the causes of sleep apnea can be pretty diverse, and not necessarily clear-cut.

If you fit any of the high-risk categories, feel that a sleep apnea cause is present in your life, and think that you may be experiencing symptoms of Sleep Apnea, please talk to your doctor about it right away.

There are many sleep apnea treatments available, which will not only improve your sleep, but could also save your life!







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What is Sleep Apnea?

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Sleeping Disorders

Sleep Apnea Treatments

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