
Table of Contents
KEY POINTS
Sleep apnea is a chronic disease that can cause poor quality sleep and affect mental, physical and sexual performance.
Severe, untreated sleep apnea increases your risk for health problems such as heart disease and stroke.
Excess body weight, a narrow airway, low muscle tone, and genetic predisposition are all risk factors for sleep apnea.
Common warning signs for sleep apnea include snoring, others noticing that your breathing pauses during sleep, and daytime sleepiness.
Sleep apnea can be treated effectively with CPAP therapy or an alternative treatment.
Am I at Risk ?
GENERAL OVERVIEW
TREATMENTS
Positional therapy: A special belt or alerting device helps you sleep on your side instead of on your back.
Oral appliance therapy: A custom-ft mouth guard stabilizes the jaw and moves it slightly forward to open the airway.
Oral pressure therapy: A small mouthpiece connected to a tube creates suction in the mouth, pulling the tongue forward and opening the airway.
Nasal valves: Disposable valves are applied to the nostrils nightly to create higher airway pressure, possibly keeping the airway open.
Upper airway stimulation: An implanted device delivers mild electrical stimulation to key airway muscles to prevent blockage.
Surgery: Targeted surgeries help you lose weight, align your jaw or remove soft tissue from your throat.
Tips
Lose weight and maintain a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25.
Avoid alcohol and sedative medications before bedtime.
Sleep on your side instead of on your back.
Exercise regularly.
Next Steps
- Ask your bed partner if you snore or stop breathing while asleep.
- Talk to your doctor about any obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
- Your doctor may schedule you for a sleep study if you have symptoms of a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.
- Discuss all of your medications and herbal supplements with your doctor. Ask about the sleep related side effects of your medications. Your doctor may adjust your medication timing and dose to help improve your sleep.
- Your doctor may give you questionnaires or a sleep diary to complete.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: CONTENT DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE
