SLEEP DISORDERS

What is sleep apnea? | What causes sleep apnea? | What are the different types of sleep apnea? | Who suffers from sleep apnea?
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea? | What sleep apnea treatments are available?

What are the different types of sleep apnea?

There are 3 main types of the disorder:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is the commonest and most severe form of sleep apnea and results from a blockage to the airway. In many cases this is caused by the collapse of soft tissue at the rear of throat, although this blockage can also be caused by a number of other structures including, the tongue, enlarged tonsils and polyps.
• Central Sleep Apnea. This form of the disorder results from the brain's failure to send the necessary signals to those muscles that are responsible for controlling breathing. Central sleep apnea is more common in older people and is often also associated with heart disease or with a variety of neurological disorders.
• Mixed Sleep Apnea. As its name would suggest, mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the first two types of this disorder. It is not uncommon for the primary cause to be central sleep apnea, with obstructive sleep apnea as a secondary consequence. In this case, central sleep apnea causes the initial failure to breathe but, as your brain reacts to the problem and signals your diaphragm into sudden movement to restart your breathing; this creates a blockage, resulting in obstructive sleep apnea.

The information contained here should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider.

The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice.