Otorhinolaryngology focuses on the ear, nose, and throat. Learn about the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and voice disorders.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Sleep apnea is a common and serious medical condition where a person stops breathing repeatedly while they sleep. It is more than just a problem of loud snoring; it is a complex disorder that prevents the body from getting the oxygen it needs to function correctly. For millions of people, this condition turns sleep from a restorative process into a nightly physical struggle. Instead of resting, the body fights for air, causing stress on the heart and brain. Because these pauses in breathing happen while the person is asleep, many individuals are unaware they have the condition until a partner notices the signs or they begin to suffer from health issues related to poor sleep quality.
The word “apnea” literally means “without breath.” In the context of this disorder, it refers to pauses in breathing that can last from a few seconds to over a minute. These pauses can happen dozens or even hundreds of times in a single night. When breathing stops, the oxygen levels in the blood drop. The brain eventually senses this danger and briefly wakes the person up to reopen the airway. These awakenings are usually so short that the sleeper does not remember them, but they are enough to shatter the natural sleep rhythm. This cycle of stopping breathing, waking up, and falling back asleep prevents the person from reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep that are essential for mental and physical health.
When a person with this condition falls asleep, the muscles in their body relax. In a healthy sleeper, the throat muscles relax but stay firm enough to keep the airway open. In someone with sleep apnea, the airway collapses or becomes blocked. This is often because the muscles in the back of the throat, the tongue, or the soft palate relax too much. As the airway narrows, air struggles to pass through, causing vibrations that we hear as snoring. When the airway closes completely, silence follows because no air is moving. This silence is the period of apnea.
The body reacts to this closure with a stress response. The heart rate may spike, and blood pressure often rises as the body tries to circulate what little oxygen is left. Eventually, the brain realizes that breathing has stopped and sends a panic signal. The person might gasp, snort, or jerk awake to take a breath. This effectively unblocks the airway, but it also pulls the person out of deep sleep. This process repeats throughout the night, leaving the person exhausted the next day even if they spent eight hours in bed.
Sleep is a biological necessity, not a luxury. During deep sleep, the body repairs tissues, strengthens the immune system, and consolidates memories. It is also a time when the cardiovascular system rests, as heart rate and blood pressure naturally lower. Sleep apnea disrupts all of these processes. By constantly waking the brain up to breathe, the disorder prevents the body from entering the “slow-wave” sleep and REM sleep that heal the mind and body.
When breathing stops, oxygen levels in the blood fall. This is called desaturation. If this happens repeatedly, the body lives in a state of chronic oxygen starvation during the night. The organs, especially the heart and brain, are forced to work harder to survive with less fuel. Over time, this nightly strain can lead to inflammation and damage to the blood vessels. It acts as a slow-acting poison to the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of long-term damage.
This struggle primarily affects the heart. Every time the oxygen drops, the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline. These hormones tell the heart to beat faster and pump harder. For a person with untreated apnea, their heart is effectively running a marathon every night instead of resting. This constant state of high alert is why sleep apnea is a leading cause of high blood pressure and heart disease. The heart never gets the break it needs to recover from the day’s activities.
This is the most common form of the disorder. It is caused by a physical blockage of the airway. The blockage usually happens at the back of the throat where the tongue and soft palate meet. Gravity plays a role here; when a person lies on their back, the tongue naturally falls backward. In people with OSA, the airway is often naturally narrower or the tissues are looser, making a collapse more likely.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a mechanical problem. The lungs are working, and the body is trying to breathe. You can often see the chest moving as the person struggles to pull air in against a closed throat. It is similar to trying to suck a thick milkshake through a collapsed paper straw. The effort is there, but the flow is not. This type of apnea is frequently associated with loud snoring and is strongly linked to weight and neck size, although thin people can have it too if their anatomy predisposes them to it.
Central sleep apnea is less common and works differently. In this version, the airway is not blocked. Instead, the problem lies in the communication between the brain and the muscles that control breathing. The brain simply fails to send the signal to “breathe” for a short period. The person sits quietly without trying to inhale.
This type is often related to other serious medical conditions. It can be seen in people who have had a stroke, have heart failure, or use certain pain medications that dampen the brain’s respiratory drive. Because there is no physical blockage, people with central sleep apnea often do not snore as loudly as those with the obstructive type. The silence of the apnea is due to a lack of effort, not a blockage. Treatment for this type is more complex because it involves addressing the brain’s signaling issues rather than just propping open the throat.
Sleep apnea does not discriminate, but certain factors increase the likelihood of developing it. It can affect children, usually due to large tonsils, and adults of any age. However, it is most frequently diagnosed in men over the age of 40. Women are also at risk, particularly after menopause, when hormonal changes can affect muscle tone in the throat.
Physical characteristics play a giant role. Being overweight is a major risk factor because fat deposits around the neck can press on the airway when lying down. A thick neck—generally larger than 17 inches for men or 16 inches for women—is a strong predictor of the condition. However, internal anatomy matters too. Some people are born with a narrow throat, a large tongue, or a small lower jaw, all of which crowd the airway and make blockage more likely regardless of body weight.
Genetics also plays a significant role. If your parents had sleep apnea, you are more likely to have it. This is partly because we inherit our facial structure and throat anatomy from our parents. If a narrow airway runs in the family, the risk of apnea does too. Additionally, lifestyle factors that are shared among families, such as diet and activity levels, can contribute to the weight gain that triggers the condition.
Ignoring sleep apnea is dangerous. It is not a condition that typically goes away on its own. Left untreated, the cumulative effect of oxygen deprivation and fragmented sleep can shorten a person’s lifespan. It is a major contributor to “all-cause mortality,” meaning people with untreated apnea are more likely to die prematurely from any cause compared to those without it.
The risks extend to almost every system in the body. It increases the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. It can cause liver problems and complications with medications and surgery. Furthermore, the extreme daytime fatigue it causes leads to a higher risk of car accidents and workplace injuries. Treating sleep apnea is therefore not just about getting a good night’s sleep; it is a critical step in preserving overall health and longevity.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a physical blockage in the throat, while central sleep apnea is caused by the brain failing to send the signal to breathe.
While it is rare to die directly from holding your breath, the stress on the heart can trigger fatal heart attacks or strokes during sleep in people with severe, untreated apnea.
Yes, the physical traits that cause a narrow airway, such as jaw shape and tongue size, can be passed down from parents to children.
Losing weight can significantly reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and sometimes cure it, but it does not guarantee a cure if the cause is anatomical.
Men tend to carry more fat in their upper bodies and necks compared to women, and hormonal differences may also protect women until menopause.
Leave your phone number and our medical team will call you back to discuss your healthcare needs and answer all your questions.
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
