Breathing problems like sleep apnea can be extremely uncomfortable and are one of the most common health conditions affecting adults. If you have sleep apnea, you might feel tired or have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. It can cause serious health problems, including high blood pressure and increased heart attack or stroke risk. The best treatment for you will depend on your specific case and the severity of your symptoms. Specialists at Bridgewater Respacare will ask you questions about your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle habits, including how long you sleep and what time you wake up. A report from these tests will help your doctor determine the most suitable treatment for your condition.

Below are the major risk factors of sleep apnea:

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome

Sleep apnea causes you to breathe too fast during sleep, which may lead to problems with breathing at night. The condition usually develops in childhood but may also occur in adults recently weaned from ventilator support (respiratory assistance).

Medications

Certain medications can make it harder to control airway passages during sleep. For example, antidepressants can cause problems with breathing during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep because they can make it difficult to relax muscles in the upper airway while sleeping. Other medications can also interfere with proper breathing patterns while sleeping, such as those used for high blood pressure or gastrointestinal problems such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Smoking or alcohol use.

Heavy smokers are at greater risk of developing snoring and other sleep apnea symptoms because they tend to take deeper breaths during sleep. Alcohol can worsen snoring and make it difficult to stay asleep throughout the night if consumed too close to bedtime. At the same time, excessive consumption of alcohol can also increase the risk of sleep apnea by shifting blood away from the brain during REM sleep (the time when most dreaming occurs).

Age

Obstructive sleep apnea tends to become more common as we age. So, older adults are more likely to develop it than younger adults. Someone who’s 60 years old may be at greater risk than someone who’s 30 years old for developing this type of sleep disorder.

Obesity

Obesity is another notorious risk factor for this condition. The extra weight puts pressure on the airway, causing it to collapse during sleep. Obesity can cause this condition even if it doesn’t cause snoring or loud breathing at night. An overweight person may have an enlarged neck or soft tissues around the throat, making it easier for the airway to collapse. Obesity also increases the risk of diabetes, which can cause high blood sugar levels, making it harder for your body to regulate its blood sugar levels during sleep.

Sleep apnea is associated with many health problems, including high blood pressure and stroke. It’s also an important risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. If you think you might have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about testing for it. A sleep specialist can help diagnose and treat the condition. Contact Respacare and request an appointment with a doctor to learn more about sleep apnea.