RISK FACTORS FOR

• BEING MALE – more men than women have sleep apnea, at younger ages

• WEIGHT – People with a body mass index( BMI) over 30 are at a higher risk due to excess tissue that can obstruct the airway.

• NECK SIZE: A neck circumference over 17 inches in men and 15 inches in women increases risk, as larger necks tend to have narrower airways.

• AGING – a loss of muscle tone can increase airway blockages, but sleep apnea can occur at any age, including childhood

• LIFESTYLE FACTORS: Alcohol, smoking, and sedative use can worsen sleep apnea by relaxing throat muscles or irritating the airway.

Diagnosing what type of apnea is affecting you will likely involve a sleep test, in which you may sleep overnight at a sleep clinic and be monitored in various ways, painlessly, by electrode stickers and other monitors that detect movements, heart rate, brain waves and sleep positions. In some cases, you may alternatively wear a monitoring device at home while sleeping.

Treatment for OSA or CSA may involve in wearing a mask and pump machine that help you breathe correctly while sleeping. The most common of those devices is called a CPAP( Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. A flow of regular air through the nose or nose and mouth provides enough positive pressure to keep the airway open as you breathe naturally.

There are many variations of masks to allow for a custom, comfortable fit to your face and preferences. Adjusting to using of CPAP or other device may take time and repeated fittings so that you can adapt to using it nightly for safer and more effective sleep quality.

Surgery or mouth appliances may also be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea when there are physiological causes. In some cases, removal of enlarged tonsils and / or adenoids or uvula may create a clear airway. Oral appliances, created by your dentist, may be used to reposition the jaw correctively. Each case is individual and a combination of solutions may be used to fit you.

A relatively new OSA solution with the brand name Inspire is an implanted device with a handheld remote control that sends a gentle electrical impulse to your muscles to keep the airway open as you sleep. The small device is implanted under the skin with incisions under the skin and collarbone. Lifestyle changes that also improve all-over health will be recommended, such as weight loss, forgoing alcohol and smoking and increased exercise.

CENTRAL SLEEP APNEA

Central Sleep Apnea is caused by problems with the way your brain controls your breathing while you sleep. Treatments may include medication and /

or the use of a CPAP or other breathing-assisting devices, but the underlying cause will also be found and treated if possible. For example, therapy for heart failure might improve central sleep apnea. Other therapies may be reduction in opioid dosages.

A recent development, a transvenous phrenic nerve stimulator, delivers an electrical pulse to the nerve that controls the diaphragm during sleep. The pulse causes you to take a breath. The batterypowered pulse generator is implanted under the skin in the upper chest.

Whether your breathing irregularities are caused by obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea, seeking and following treatment can improve the quality of your life, night and day. Addressing your sleep quality now with your primary doctor is the first step to solutions.

EAR, NOSE & THROAT HEALTH ISSUE | AUGUST 2025 13 OURHEALTHNWA. COM