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 which is why we must be aware of its details!
So, is sleep apnea a respiratory disease? Yes, sleep apnea is somehow considered a respiratory disease 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.
- Heart failure
- May lead to fatal conditions such as brain damages or even death
- Heart attack
- Can also be severely life-threatening
- Irregular heartbeat
- Worsens the ability to breathe
- Can trigger anxiety
- Can lead to other heart diseases
- Stroke
- Can leave permanent damage
- May lead to paralysis
- Can cause death
- Depression
- Not an easy condition to treat
- Can lead to self-harming
- Weight gain or loss
- Sleep apnea can cause uncontrolled weight gain or weight loss that can lead to complicated health conditions
- Diabetes
- Leaves you prone to more heart attacks
- High Blood Pressure
- Aside from your physical health, this can also affect your mental health and relationship with people around you including your work
- Can lead to other life-threatening conditions
- Increases ADHD
- Sleep apnea reduces your ability to focus which is what happens when you have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Having a lack of control to focus can lead to frustration and risk of other danger
- Headaches
- You may wake up with a bad headache which will lead to other problems listed here
- Can lead to brain problems
- Lack of daily energy
- As mentioned, your energy will be reduced since you are unable to sleep well. This can lead to risky conditions that may put someone in danger
- Seizures
- Sleep apnea patients are more prone to seizures during sleep compared to epilepsy patients without sleep apnea.
The thing is, sleep apnea, if left unresolved or worsened by other factors, can lead to death. Its risks can be fatal and leave permanent damage or severe pain and feeling of sickness which can drag on daily.
If diagnosed with sleep apnea or any respiratory disease, one must consider treating the problem as soon as possible in order to prevent any unwanted scenarios related to your health.
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 snoring. 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. Treat or avoid triggering your allergies to avoid snoring.
- 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 snoring.
- Avoid drinking liquor before bed.
- Excessive liquor can also relax the muscles that will lead to snoring. 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 prevent you from snoring. 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 snoring.
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 snoring.
- 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.
This is important so we can stop snoring “naturally”.
- 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 snoring, 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. Stay hydrated to prevent snoring!
- 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 snore.
Avoid depriving yourself with sleep and you can stop snoring.
- Not getting the right amount of sleep and not sleeping early can cause the body to become dysfunctional and snore.
- 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 snoring.
As you can see, some of these only involve basic lifestyle changes. However, if these aren’t enough to cure any one of your conditions, the best thing to do is see a doctor for better medications.
Related Questions
Can sleep apnea cause lung problems?
Yes, sleep apnea can potentially cause lung problems or rather, lung problems can cause sleep apnea. Either way, both conditions (sleep apnea and lung problems) can be the cause of each other and worsen each other.
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.
