Sleep apnea is often linked with other health conditions that definitely need treatment, it is considered as an accompanying disease which brings in other diseases. Learn about sleep apnea in this article!
So, is sleep apnea a respiratory condition? Yes, sleep apnea is actually considered a respiratory condition and it often comes associated with other existing respiratory diseases.
According to research, those who are already infected by any respiratory disease are more likely to be prone to sleep apnea.
Having a respiratory disease will definitely cause breathing problems, which is the main risk factor of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea happens when we experience breathing problems which leads to pauses in breathing. That alone is already dangerous.
Though
it is considered a respiratory disease, there are also other types of
sleep apnea such as central sleep apnea which is caused by the brain’s
inability to send signals to the body to make it breathe.
Obstructive sleep apnea simply occurs when the airways are being blocked, making it harder to breathe.
In
a sense, it is not a direct respiratory problem but it is still
recognized as one because obstructive sleep apnea happens when there is
an obstruction in the airway or the lungs.
Since it is known as
an “accompanying disease”, sleep apnea is can be associated with other
diseases not just respiratory diseases.
It is more likely that
the respiratory diseases which often infects or affects the lungs is one
of the reasons why sleep apnea appears in a patient.
The lungs
is where the airways are and the respiratory diseases can cause an
obstruction there and affect the breathing, leading to sleep apnea.
In
a sense, respiratory diseases bring in another illness like sleep
apnea. It can be the main cause of it, or become what worsens it.
Because
of this, both conditions, regardless if they are considered the same
group of diseases or not, will definitely continue to affect and worsen
each other so both conditions must be treated immediately.
How respiratory diseases cause sleep apnea
Here are some examples of respiratory diseases that attacks the lungs, causes an obstruction in the airway and creating difficulty in breathing which leads to obstructive sleep apnea.
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Common cold
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Lung Cancer
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Tuberculosis
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
As you can see, there are already plenty of respiratory diseases that
can cause sleep apnea or end up worsening it. If both conditions exist
in one patient, they are in critical danger.
The patient must be treated immediately to avoid fatal conditions that may lead to death.
Why sleep apnea and respiratory diseases should be treated
There are many reasons why sleep apnea and respiratory diseases must
be treated immediately. Respiratory diseases alone are already
dangerous, but when accompanied by sleep apnea, the risk is higher.
The following are the possible scenarios that might happen if sleep apnea and respiratory diseases are left untreated.
- Sleep apnea causes:
- Death
- Sleep apnea interrupts breathing that can affect the heart and the brain which can lead to sudden death during sleep.
- Difficult breathing
- Sleep apnea can occur when there is an obstruction in the airway or the brain is unable to function well that helps the body breathe, causing difficult breathing.
- Snoring
- If there is an obstruction in the airway, the muscles around the throat may vibrate and cause snoring.
- Worsens other illnesses
- Being unable to breathe well during sleep disrupts your entire body’s functionality and eventually attacking the other diseases a patient may already have.
- Heart problems
- With sleep apnea, you are more prone to heart problems such as heart failure or heart attacks. This is due to the lack of blood oxygen levels.
- Irregular heartbeat
- Due to the low blood oxygen levels or the air is unable to reach your heart, it can lead to an abnormal heartbeat or pauses in breathing during sleep.
- Stroke
- Similar to heart problems
- Depression
- Being unable to breathe well during sleep and get the proper rest can mess up your emotions or eventually lead to depression.
- Weight gain or loss
- Sleep apnea messes up your body’s hormone production. You can end up gaining weight faster due to sleep apnea.
- Diabetes
- Having sleep apnea disables the body’s ability to control the sugar level which can lead to diabetes.
- High Blood Pressure
- Sleep apnea can potentially cause or worsen hypertension in people.
- Increases ADHD
- Being sleep deprived decreases the person’s ability to focus, worsening conditions such as ADHD.
- Headaches
- The lack of air that enters the brain can lead to other brain problems, but usually results in morning headaches.
- Daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty breathing at night can lead to restless sleeps, making you feel the need to stay asleep even during the day because your body couldn’t rest well at night.
- Insomnia
- Difficulty in breathing can lead to insomnia. Instead of waking up randomly at night, you will end up being unable to sleep.
- Seizures
- Sleep apnea patients are more prone to seizures during sleep compared to epilepsy patients without sleep apnea.
- Irritability
- When you are sleep deprived, you will unconsciously lose control of your emotional stability. You can become irritable or easily frustrated with sleep apnea.
- Poor memory
- Sleep apnea causes sleep deprivation which may lower your brain’s performance as it affects the brain activity, causing poor memory in patients.
- Respiratory diseases
- Sleep apnea is a respiratory disease that may cause other diseases or worsen them.
- Driving accidents
- The lack of concentration and daytime sleepiness can lead to driving accidents when you have sleep apnea.
- Death
How to treat sleep apnea and respiratory diseases
There are different ways to treat sleep apnea and respiratory diseases and it often depends on what causes the condition in the first place. Usually, surgeries are the best way to permanently cure the issue.
However, there are also other methods that will be listed below and can probably help you out. Most of these can treat both sleep apnea and respiratory diseases.
- Rapid Maxillary Expansion
- For children with obstructive sleep apnea. This process places an expandable brace on the roof of the mouth that increases the width of the upper jaw (maxilla).
- Over time, parents can adjust the brace using a special key to increase the amount of pressure for the teeth.
- Jaw Advancement Surgery
- For teenagers and adults. This process will surgically break the jaw bones, moved forward and then fixed properly with screws and plates and will change the person’s facial structure or profile.
- It might take months to recover.
- Surgical Airway Advancement
- Similar to the 2nd example. Bones of the upper and lower jaw will be repositioned in a way that will relieve airway obstruction.
- Nasal Strips
- Nasal strips are one of the earliest tools used to treat conditions like sleep apnea and its symptoms such as snoring.
Nowadays, there are newly developed nasal strips that you can try.
- Nasal strips are one of the earliest tools used to treat conditions like sleep apnea and its symptoms such as snoring.
- Oral Appliance
- Oral pieces can help with sleep apnea and snoring, they are custom made to make sure it prevents the obstruction in the airways and counter sleep apnea and snoring.
- CPAP Treatment
- The CPAP or “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure” is a commonly used treatment and proven to be effective for sleep apnea patients and helping snoring.
- Avoid sedatives before going to sleep
- Certain sedatives can cause sleep apnea. Consult a medical expert to determine what type of sedative may be the cause.
- Treat chronic allergies
- Some allergies can trigger obstruction in your body’s airways and may cause you to have sleep apnea and cause you to snore.
- Try to avoid overworking yourself.
- Sometimes, simply going to sleep while totally exhausted can make our muscles relax too much to the point that it can lead to sleep apnea.
- Avoid drinking liquor before bed.
- Excessive liquor can also relax the muscles that will lead to sleep apnea. Limit alcohol consumption or avoid drinking too much before going to sleep.
- Sleep with your head elevated.
- When
the head is not properly elevated, the tongue can fall back and
block the air passage, causing the tissues to vibrate and snore.
You can also use an anti-snore pillow which will keep your head in proper place that can help stop sleep apnea. Sleeping in a chair or a recliner chair is also an option.
- When
the head is not properly elevated, the tongue can fall back and
block the air passage, causing the tissues to vibrate and snore.
- Try to sleep on your sides.
- Sleeping
flat on our backs can cause the tongue to fall back and block the
airways. It can also make the muscles relax and cause sleep apnea.
You can read about: “How to prevent sleeping on my back” to learn how you can keep sleeping on your sides.
- Sleeping
flat on our backs can cause the tongue to fall back and block the
airways. It can also make the muscles relax and cause sleep apnea.
- Get plenty of exercises.
- Lack of physical activity can cause our body’s functionality to drop. This means that we need the right amount of exercise to keep our body “awake” and functioning even as we sleep.
- Stop or limit smoking.
- If
your body inhales the smoke, it can cause the muscles inside to
swell or become irritated, potentially blocking the airways and
causing you to snore.
Those who are also exposed to secondhand smoke can be prone to sleep apnea, so avoid getting near smoke as much as possible.
- If
your body inhales the smoke, it can cause the muscles inside to
swell or become irritated, potentially blocking the airways and
causing you to snore.
- Drink enough water.
- When we are dehydrated, the throat becomes dry which makes the vibrating tissues sound louder and produces snoring or sleep apnea. Stay hydrated!
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Our
diet plays a huge part in our health! You should also avoid eating
heavy before sleeping, if you go to sleep on a full stomach, your
muscles may not work as it should.
Focus on eating healthy foods!
- Our
diet plays a huge part in our health! You should also avoid eating
heavy before sleeping, if you go to sleep on a full stomach, your
muscles may not work as it should.
- Sleep on time.
- Not getting the right amount of sleep and not sleeping early can cause the body to become dysfunctional and have sleep apnea.
- Lose weight.
- Being overweight or obesity will cause difficulty in breathing. The excess fat will get in the way of the air passages, causing tissues to vibrate and cause sleep apnea.
To find out the best treatment for your sleep apnea respiratory condition, it’s important to see a doctor first.
Related Questions
Does sleep apnea affect your breathing during the day?
Yes, sleep apnea can possibly affect your breathing even during the day. Especially those who have central sleep apnea, which is caused by the brain’s functionality.
You may end up having an irregular heartbeat which may lead to affected breathing even while awake.
If you are constantly experiencing breathing problems even during the day, the problem may be serious and requires medical attention immediately.
Is sleep apnea a chronic illness?
Yes, sleep apnea is usually a chronic illness that persists every night a patient falls asleep. It normally does not go away by itself and needs to be treated depending on the cause.
Is sleep apnea a disability?
No, sleep apnea does not have a disability listing but the SSA (Social Security Administration) have listings for breathing disorders, heart problems and mental deficits which sleep apnea can affect.
Meeting any one of those criteria can qualify a sleep apnea patient for disability benefits.
Sleep apnea, if left untreated can lead to other complicated health issues that may qualify for disability benefits. However, sleep apnea itself is not a direct qualification for disabilities.
