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Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a sleeping person's breathing stops or almost stops many times per night. These breathing interruptions last 10 seconds or more and cause a person to "wake up" to resume breathing again. Sleep apnea can be mild or severe and can be caused by a physical blockage of the airway (obstructive sleep apnea) or the malfunction of a specific brain signal (central sleep apnea).
Signs of sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Gasping or choking
- Morning headaches and/or dry mouth
- Nighttime waking
- Snoring that involves periods of silence and then loud gasps or snorts
Sleep apnea is a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition, associated with heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke. It is important that people who suspect they have sleep apnea see a sleep specialist for a proper diagnosis and sleep apnea treatment.
Some common causes of obstructive sleep apnea are the following:
- Deviated septum
- Elongated palate or uvula
- Enlarged tongue
- Enlarged tonsils
- Narrow throat passage
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal polyps
- Obesity
- Poor dental states
To help accurately diagnose sleep apnea, UT Southwestern Medical Center’s physicians may prescribe a sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram (PSG). The sleep study measures the patient’s neurological, cardiovascular, breathing and muscle functions while sleeping. The record is invaluable for helping to determine the source of the condition and how it may best be treated.
One treatment for sleep apnea is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP device. This device gently blows air into a mask placed over a patient's nose. The gentle air pressure keeps the airway open.
Other treatments include sleep positioning, oral appliances and surgery. A common surgery for sleep apnea is the removal of excess tissue in the throat, which makes the patient's airway wider.
Patients with sleep apnea may benefit from surgery by our ear, nose and throat and oral surgery services.
Please visit the Health Library to learn more about sleep apnea.
