Sleep Apnea is the cessation (stoppage) of breathing for more than 10 seconds during sleep. Apnea can be caused by many factors such as the airway muscles relaxing so much during deep sleep stages that nearly all muscle tone is lost and the airway closes off. As the airway relaxes and closes snoring can occur which will intensify to the point of full airway obstruction. The airway obstruction leads to the apnea or hyponea. (Hyponea is a medical term for shallow breathing).

Once the apnea or hyponea starts 3 factors occur which affect the quality of sleep.

* Oxygen Levels drop, sometimes dramatically due to no intake of air.
* Heart Rate increases due to increased carbon dioxide levels and low oxygen levels.
* These cause arousals or a change in sleep stages. The arousals can be short or long and the snorer is unaware it is happening. These arousals can happen hundreds of times during the night. With each arousal the brain “wakes up” briefly and the person is taken from a deep sleep to a light or awake stage. This can occur over and over again never allowing the sleeper to gain the restful sleep they need. A sleeping person needs to enter deep sleep several times during the night to get the rest they need.

Sleep Apnea can cause severe physiological damage indirectly by causing the heart to work so hard at night and thus predisposing the sufferer to high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack and stroke.

The following are some signs and symptoms of sleep apnea:

* loud snoring - waking up unrefreshed after a full nights sleep
* gasping and/or choking at night
* pauses in breathing >10seconds
* falling asleep while watching TV or driving
* high Blood Pressure
* irritability
* depression/anxiety
* frequent nighttime awakenings/trips to bathroom
* daytime fatigue/tiredness

If any of the above sound familiar to you or a loved one, you should speak to your doctor or Registered Respiratory Therapist about further testing to screen for sleep apnea. Simple in home testing are available. For more detailed information on snoring, sleep apnea and sleep apnea treatments please visit www.irscanada.ca

Compiled by Lisa Bower, RRT, CAE, respiratory therapist with over 15 years experience. Lisa Bower is the Manager for Independent Respiratory Services Inc. in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia (BC), Canada, and contributing webmaster for www.irscanada.ca