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Causes of sleep apnea include obesity, asthma, GERD, and lifestyle choices. No matter what the cause, the result is the same: breathing is interrupted, disrupting sleep.
The causes of sleep apnea range from obesity and acid reflux to central nervous system disorders and physical abnormalities. No matter what the cause, the results are the same: the throat collapses or becomes obstructed, causing breathing to stop for several seconds.
Sleep Apnea and Obesity
Sleep apnea and obesity have an interrelated relationship. There is little doubt in the medical community that excess weight can cause sleep apnea: the extra fat and soft tissue in the throat puts pressure on the airway, increasing the chance that the airway passage will collapse. Sixty to seventy percent of sleep apnea patients are obese.
While obesity is a cause of sleep apnea, the relationship between sleep apnea and obesity is even more complex. Additional weight gain is a common sleep apnea symptom, so obesity can cause sleep apnea, and sleep apnea in turn can worsen obesity.
Some studies indicate that physical size, rather than obesity, increases the risk of sleep apnea. A study of NFL players found a disproportionate number of the athletes had sleep apnea symptoms.
Sleep Apnea, Acid Reflux, and GERD
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a possible cause of sleep apnea. GERD symptoms occur due to acid reflux. Stomach acid seeps into the esophagus, damaging esophageal tissue. In cases of severe GERD, acid reflux can cause scarring and tissue damage as far up the throat as the vocal cords. Chronic acid reflux can scar the inside of the throat, causing obstructions that result in sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea and Asthma.
Asthma and allergies are potential sleep apnea causes. Asthma causes the airways to spasm, increasing the risk that the airways will collapse during sleep. Allergies also cause airway inflammation and congestion, increasing the risk of obstructive sleep apnea
Physical Sleep Apnea Causes
The physical shape of a person's throat and head can be causes of sleep apnea. Small airways are easier to obstruct than large ones, so people with abnormally small windpipes have a higher than normal risk of sleep apnea. Bone structure in the skull and neck can result in smaller than normal airway passages.
Tonsils and adenoids can also be a sleep apnea cause. Naturally large or inflamed tonsils or adenoids can block the throat, causing sleep apnea. Enlarged tonsils are a common cause of childhood sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea and the Central Nervous System.
Neurological problems rarely cause sleep apnea, but can occur, resulting in a condition known as central sleep apnea. In the case of central sleep apnea, the brain's instructions to the throat are either scrambled or blocked. With no signal to stay open, the throat relaxes and collapses.
Sleep Apnea Causes and Lifestyle
Certain lifestyle choices increase the chance of developing sleep apnea. Smoking irritates the throat and lungs, increasing the chance of airway spasms and throat closure.
Alcohol and some medications relax the throat muscles, making it harder to keep airways open while asleep. Alcohol and tobacco use also increases the risk of GERD-related heartburn, itself a sleep apnea cause.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
The copyright of the article Causes of Sleep Apnea in Patient Health Education is owned by Michael McGrath. Permission to republish Causes of Sleep Apnea in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Sep 8, 2008 9:53 AM
Guest :
well im a pateint of sleepa apnea ab=nd i would really like 2 say that the
machime is really wonderful i wake up in the mornigng refreshed and ready 2
go i sleep much better at night
Sep 8, 2008 9:53 AM
Guest :
well im a pateint of sleepa apnea and i would really like 2 say that the
machime is really wonderful i wake up in the mornigng refreshed and ready 2
go i sleep much better at night
Feb 3, 2009 4:20 PM
Guest :
Hi,
I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea for a year, & yes the
cpap does help @ night, but the naps I have during the day are getting
worse, in fact quite often I can be out of it nearly all day, & have
done for 10 years, the nightmares I have in them are 'out of this world'
the exact words spoken by my partner. 70% of the day I'm in this paralysed
state. I noticed there was mention about the brain switching off causing
the airways to close, can the brain switch off causing limbs to paralyse?
this is how I feel when I physically can't stay awake, my whole body
becomes limp & I can't hold my head up anymo? Now I've read obesity
leads to sleep apnea which doesn't help the obesity, your right there. I'm
23 st, GP's say I've a body mass of 56. I've got weeping ulcers covering
both legs & cystitis, I've had it nearly 2 years. We'd be visiting GP's
nurse twice a day every day if my partner wasn't dressing them at home,
(district nurses won't come) & now they're moaning cause it's cost them
£16.400 in dressings, try washing them after removing them, your joking!
you say? No that's what they said & you need to loose weight (easier
said than done). They suggest a £6000 stomach band, except they can't as
I've a hernia protruding out of my naval, for over 2 years, which has grown
to the size of a football, (can't operate til I loose weight tho, but you'd
save £16000 on dressings) in the mean time it's a ticking time bomb. Just
eat less, you say, cut out sugary, starchy & fatty foods, smaller
meals. Well, I've already done this I,m a diabetic, also brought on by the
weight. Do some exercises, go jogging, join a gym then, you say. I'd love
to except I can hardly walk let alone run, (district nurses say I'm too
mobile) that's a laugh & a half, I'm in so much pain (day in & day
out) cause I've arthritis 'all' up my spine, osteopenia & scoliosis,
now they tell me I have it because of all the hormone treatment I had for 2
years when I was 12, nothing we can do, no cure just cope & live with
for the rest of your life (now you tell me thanks very much) I also have
asthma, & now having read this article I see that contributes to the
apnea too. I've now reached crisis point in coping with the disease, as it
doesn't seem to improve any & my GP doesn't seem bothered or
understands. Does anyone out there have the answer? Don't hesitate to email
me at katewalker94@hotmail.co.uk with some of your suggestions.
Feb 3, 2009 4:48 PM
Guest :
Hi,
I am 37 & have been diagnosed with sleep apnea for a year,
& yes the cpap does help @ night, but the naps I have during the day
are getting worse, in fact quite often I can be out of it nearly all day,
& have done for 10 years, the nightmares I have in them are 'out of
this world' the exact words spoken by my partner. 70% of the day I'm in
this paralysed state. I noticed there was mention about the brain switching
off causing the airways to close, can the brain switch off causing limbs to
paralyse? this is how I feel when I physically can't stay awake, my whole
body becomes limp & I can't hold my head up anymo? Now I've read
obesity leads to sleep apnea which doesn't help the obesity, your right
there. I'm 23 st, GP's say I've a body mass of 56. I've got weeping ulcers
covering both legs & cystitis, I've had it nearly 2 years. We'd be
visiting GP's nurse twice a day every day if my partner wasn't dressing
them at home, (district nurses won't come) & now they're moaning cause
it's cost them £16.400 in dressings, try washing them after removing them,
your joking! you say? No that's what they said & you need to loose
weight (easier said than done). They suggest a £6000 stomach band, except
they can't as I've a hernia protruding out of my naval, for over 2 years,
which has grown to the size of a football, (can't operate til I loose
weight tho, but you'd save £16000 on dressings) in the mean time it's a
ticking time bomb. Just eat less, you say, cut out sugary, starchy &
fatty foods, smaller meals. Well, I've already done this I,m a diabetic,
also brought on by the weight. Do some exercises, go jogging, join a gym
then, you say. I'd love to except I can hardly walk let alone run,
(district nurses say I'm too mobile) that's a laugh & a half, I'm in so
much pain (day in & day out) cause I've arthritis 'all' up my spine,
osteopenia & scoliosis, now they tell me I have it because of all the
hormone treatment I had for 2 years when I was 12, nothing we can do, no
cure just cope & live with for the rest of your life (now you tell me
thanks very much) I also have asthma, & now having read this article I
see that contributes to the apnea too. I've now reached crisis point in
coping with the disease, as it doesn't seem to improve any & my GP
doesn't seem bothered or understands. Does anyone out there have the
answer? Don't hesitate to email me at katewalker94@hotmail.co.uk with some
of your suggestions.
4 Comments
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