If you suspect you may have either type of sleep apnea, consult your doctor for screening and treatment options.
Risk factors
People of all ages, even children, can have sleep apnea. Certain factors, however, put you at increased risk.
Obstructive sleep apnea
• Being overweight. Fat deposits around your upper airway may obstruct your breathing. However, not everyone who has sleep apnea is overweight.
• Having a thick neck. A thick neck may narrow the airway and may be an indication of excess weight. A neck circumference greater than 17 inches can lead to an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
• High blood pressure. Sleep apnea is not uncommon in people with high blood pressure.
• A narrowed airway. Some people may have a naturally narrow throat. The airway can also become blocked by enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
• Being male. Men are twice as likely to have sleep apnea as women are. However, women increase their risk if they’re overweight. Risk for women also appears to rise after menopause.
• Being older. Sleep apnea occurs two to three times more often in adults older than 65.
• A family history of sleep apnea. If you have family members with sleep apnea, you may be at increased risk.
• Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. These substances relax the muscles in your throat.
• Smoking. Smoking may increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway. This risk drops after your quit smoking.
For central sleep apnea, men are also more at risk. Additionally, people with a history of heart disorders, neuromuscular disorders or stroke are at higher risk. Sleeping at a higher altitude than you’re accustomed to can also increase your risk for the disorder.
Treatment options
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). People with moderate to severe sleep apnea may benefit from a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over the nose while sleeping. The increased air pressure helps to keep the upper airway passages open, preventing apnea and snoring.
• Oral appliances. Another option is wearing an oral appliance designed to keep your throat open. Experts consider CPAP to be more effective, but many people find oral appliances easier to use.
• Surgery or other procedures. Surgical procedures can remove excess tissue from your nose or throat that may be vibrating and causing you to snore, or that may be blocking your upper air passages.
Treatments for central sleep apnea can also include therapy for associated medical problems such as heart or neuromuscular disorders.
For more information on treatment options, click here.
Self-care
Experts say that self-care measures can go a long way in dealing with obstructive sleep apnea and possibly central sleep apnea.
• Lose excess weight. Even a slight loss in excess weight may help relieve constriction of your throat.
• Avoid alcohol and medications such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. These relax the muscles in the back of your throat, interfering with breathing.
• Sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back. Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and soft palate to rest against the back of your throat and block your airway.
