Which Type of Sleep Apnea Do You Have?

Sleep apnea is a common but serious sleep disorder that affects up to 9% of adults in the United States, and even some children. The incidence is probably higher, but many people with sleep apnea don't realize they have it. The most common symptom of sleep apnea is snoring, particularly snoring that wakes you up. 

While snoring may seem like nothing more than a minor inconvenience, sleep apnea prevents your body from breathing throughout the night and getting the sleep it needs to fully recover and restore itself. 

As an expert internist, Kimberly Bolling, MD, has seen firsthand how sleep apnea can lead to serious, even life-threatening conditions, including stroke and heart disease. That’s why she offers sleep apnea evaluations and treatments at her Bowie, Maryland, office.

If you snore or feel sleepy or grumpy after what should have been a full night’s rest, you may have one of three different types of sleep apnea. Take a moment to learn more about each type and how you can find out which one is disrupting your good night’s sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea

The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) because it occurs when something physically blocks your airway while you sleep. When your oral tissues block your airway, you’re also more likely to snore. You’re at increased risk for OSA if you:

• Are overweight or obese
• Have large tonsils
• Have a large neck
• Have a deviated nasal septum
• Have a recessed jaw

When you have OSA, the tissues that block your airway stop you from breathing for up to a minute at a time. This may happen hundreds of times a night. When you stop breathing, you may unconsciously grind your teeth to prompt your body to take another breath.

Losing weight is sometimes enough to stop you from snoring and put an end to your sleep apnea. 

However, while you’re in the process of reaching a healthy weight, Dr. Bolling recommends using a customized oral appliance that moves your jaw forward so your airway stays open while you sleep. The appliance also protects your teeth from teeth grinding.

If you have severe OSA or don’t respond to an oral appliance, Dr. Bolling may recommend a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. CPAP pushes oxygen into your airway all night long so you can rest. 

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) isn’t caused by an obstructed airway. Instead, it's a disorder of your central nervous system in which your brain “forgets” to signal your respiratory muscles to work continually and optimally while you’re asleep. You may breathe very shallowly or too slowly.

Like OSA, CSA can stop your brain and other organs from getting the oxygen they need to function well. The shallow breathing in CSA also causes an imbalance of oxygen throughout your body.

Most of the time, CSA is caused by an underlying condition. That’s why getting your sleep disturbance evaluated by a medical professional is so important. By treating the underlying condition, Dr. Bolling may be able to lessen your CSA.

You might benefit from CPAP if you have CSA. You might also need medication.

Mixed sleep apnea

Some women and men have a combination of both OSA and CSA. When an oral appliance or a CPAP machine doesn’t help you get a good night’s rest, you may have mixed sleep apnea.  

The only way to know for sure which type of sleep apnea you have is to get a medical evaluation. Dr. Bolling examines you, takes a medical history, listens to your symptoms, and then designs a treatment strategy so you can get a good night’s rest again. 

If you snore or think you have sleep apnea, call our Bowie, Maryland, office today at 301-352-0090 or request an appointment online. You can also send a message to Dr. Bolling and the team here on our website.