Bursting the Myth Bubble on Sleep Apnea

Find out the facts about sleep apnea and let go of those old wives’ tales.

With the information highway available at our fingertips, it can often be difficult to decipher facts from fiction. Here we have gathered some of the common myths about sleep apnea and will provide you with the actual facts, based on research, science, and experience.

Myth: Sleep Apnea Is Just Snoring

Fact: While snoring can be a symptom associated with sleep apnea, there is a huge difference between being a snorer and having a sleep disorder. With sleep apnea, a person can stop breathing anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds at a time and this can happen numerous times throughout the night, possibly occurring in the hundreds.

These breaks in breathing are often followed by a rapid snort or sudden deep breath/gasp. This can cause a disruption in the natural sleep cycle and lead to excessive daytime fatigue.

Myth: Having Sleep Apnea Is No Biggie

Fact: A disruption in your breathing is a big deal.  Especially when it is happening repeatedly in the night. It can take a toll on your mind and body, wearing you down, increasing your daytime tiredness. This leads to loss of focus, affects appetite and weight management, coping mechanisms, increased stress levels and ultimately decreases your overall health.

Myth: Only Old People Have Sleep Apnea

Fact: Any person, regardless of age or gender, can have obstructive sleep apnea. This sleeping disorder does not discriminate. It is estimated that 18 million Americans have a form of sleep apnea. While it may show up more often in adults over age 40, anyone can have it, even children. In fact, 1 in 10 children suffers from some level of sleep apnea, from mild to severe, which may also affect their attention span and behavior (see the youtube video "Finding Connor Deegan").  Most children will outgrow it, but that does not mean it will not occur again later in life.

Myth: Sleep Aids Will Prevent Sleep Apnea And Help Me Sleep

Fact: Alcohol, sleeping pills, and natural remedies, such as Valerian Root or Melatonin, do not prevent sleep apnea in any way. In fact, alcohol and sleeping pills will cause your muscles to relax and thus create the perfect situation for obstruction of your airway and obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs your body subconsciously relaxes and your tongue, soft palate, or other tissues in the back of the throat block your airway. When you try to breathe in, the air can't get through. Therefore, sleep aids might possibly enhance the creation the perfect anatomical environment for your sleeping disorder.

Myth: Only People Who Are Obese Have It

Fact: Obstructive Sleep apnea occurs commonly in people who have excess weight due to excess tissue on the neck pushing down on the airway when they are in a supine position. This does not mean just extra fat, but extra muscles mass as well. It can show up in people that are physically fit and have large, heavy muscles or large necks in addition to those that have excess fat.

Losing excess weight can help reduce your chance of experiencing sleep apnea symptoms.  Talk to your doctor about your goals and see if a weight loss program is right for you.

Myth: Surgery Is My Only Treatment Option

Fact: There are many solutions that may be able to help someone with a sleeping disorder. For a small population, having surgery will help their sleep apnea, for instance a child having oversized tonsils removed.  Additionally having surgery to improve nasal breathing may be of benefit.  Non-surgical treatments, especially in adolescents, such as such as creating more space in the mouth through orthodontic intervention (preferably without removing teeth and often times by expanding the palatal vault) will allow for more space for your tongue and other soft tissues that could potentially obstruct the airway during sleep.

• You can always try sleeping on your side. This is a difficult fix to maintain since most of us shift positions quite often in the night.
• You can try using pillows to prop your body up at an angle. Again, this may only be a short-term solution.
• A better option for continuous and effective treatment is using a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A CPAP machine blows a steady stream of air into your airway, preventing you from having any disruptions in your breathing. You can adjust the flow under a physicians' guidance until it is strong enough to keep your airway open while you sleep. This is the most common treatment for adults with moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
• For those that are unable to not use a CPAP machine, you may be able to use an oral appliance designed by a qualified dentist. This device is custom tailored to your mouth, is small and compact enough to fit in a purse or backpack, and does not require an outlet for power. An oral appliance will adjust the position of your lower jaw allowing preventing your airway from being blocked. You can learn more about oral appliances by contacting our practice.

If you have any questions about sleep apnea, feel free to contact us at any time.