Causes of Sleep Apnea

There are a number of causes of sleep apnea, a common and potentially dangerous sleep disorder characterized by loud snoring and a drop in blood oxygen level. Essentially, obstructive sleep apnea causes a blockage or narrowing of the airway during sleep, preventing air from traveling into the lungs. If oxygen drops to a dangerous level, it triggers the brain to disrupt sleep in order to tighten the upper airway muscles and open the windpipe. When this occurs, normal breaths resume, often accompanied with a loud snort or choking sound that can be disturbing to a sleeping partner.

Understanding the Most Common Causes of Sleep Apnea

What causes sleep apnea? During waking hours, throat muscles help keep the airway stiff and open so that air can flow into the lungs. These muscles become more relaxed during sleep, but in healthy people, the airway remains completely open to allow air into the lungs. In individuals who suffer from sleep apnea, the airway instead becomes blocked or narrowed during sleep. Some of the most common causes of sleep apnea relate to the following:

• Your throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal.
• Your tonsils or tissue masses in the back of your mouth, and tongue are large compared to the opening into your windpipe.
• The shape of your neck and head cause a smaller airway size in the mouth and throat areas.
• You are overweight, in which case the soft fat tissue can thicken the wall of the windpipe causing the inside opening to narrow, making it harder to keep open.
• The natural aging process limits the ability of brain signals to keep your throat muscles stiff during sleep, making it more likely that the airway will narrow or collapse.

Sleep Apnea Causes Serious Health Risks

Sleep apnea not only disturbs the sleep of the sufferer and sleeping partner. The sleep disorder, which can reduce sleep quality and cause oxygen levels to drop frequently, often triggers the release of stress hormones. Stress hormones increase heart rate and put the sufferer at risk for heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Sleep apnea can also increase your risk for obesity and diabetes if left untreated, as it can lead to changes in how the body uses energy.

Disclaimer: These statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult your physician regarding any sleeping disorders.