What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea Defined

The definition of Sleep Apnea is an occurrence of some type of obstruction that temporarily stops the breathing during sleep. Apnea literally means "without breath" and these events can occur up to 30 or more times per hour of sleep. The scientific standard of an apneic event is the patient must stop breathing for at least 10 seconds per event and have an overall blood oxygen desaturation level of 3 to 4 percent along with certain potential changes in EEG frequencies and data. If a person has 5 or more of any type of events per hour of sleep then they can be clinically diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.

Initial Diagnosis

An overnight sleep study is usual indicated when seeking to diagnose if a patient is suffering from Sleep Apnea. This sleep test, usually conducted in a specialized sleep lab by a sleep doctor and a respiratory therapist, is called a polysomnogram or polysomnography test; also known as a PSG. For more on sleep studies, see our Introduction To The Sleep Lab video on YouTube.

Signs or Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Often the people are unaware that they may have Sleep Apnea or they do not realize they have difficulty breathing in their sleep at all. It is usually someone else who witnesses the person sleeping and having these events or obstructions, usually gasping for air or a sudden stoppage of breathing while asleep, whereby they first become aware that they may have Sleep Apnea. Many people just think they do not sleep well, not realizing they have Sleep Apnea, and some try to self-medicate using sleeping pills, or alcohol to try and sleep better, which tends to make the problem worse.

Snoring is another big symptom but there are many people who snore who do not have Sleep Apnea. If snoring stops briefly and then resumes, that is a significant indicator of sleep apnea.

Daytime tiredness or drowsiness, difficulty or lack of concentration, headaches, impotence or decreased sex drive, moodiness or irritability, lack of energy, acid reflux (gastro-esophageal reflux disease aka GERD), restless sleep, tossing and turning, night sweats, memory problems, nighttime choking or chest pain, swelling of the legs in the obese, waking up foggy, groggy, or unrefreshed, anxiety, depression, increased urination at night; these could all be symptoms of Sleep Apnea. Some people first learn of the problem when they fall asleep at the wheel of a car, or are even involved in a car wreck or crash caused by the side effects of having untreated sleep apnea.

Of note, a score of 12 or higher on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale is indicative of someone who may potentially have Sleep Apnea.