Common Causes of Sleep Apnea

Do you know what exactly happens to a person who has sleep apnea?
The soft tissue in the mouth and throat becomes relaxed while you sleep.

These muscles can cause the soft tissue to block the airway and obstruct breathing. This often makes it so that a great night of sleep is a thing of the past.

Should you be worried that you’re at risk? What should you be on the lookout for? Here are 7 sleep apnea causes that you should be aware of.

1. Underlying Medical Condition

Oftentimes, sleep apnea develops due to a medical condition. These conditions have effects that hinder your sleep. Several different conditions could be the reason for this condition to progress.

• Prior strokes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Congestive heart failure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Asthma
• hormonal disorders

These are a few of the medical conditions that could be the cause of your sleep apnea. Speaking with your doctor about your risks if you have any of these conditions can be helpful.

Having one of these conditions does not mean that you will have sleep apnea. These medical occurrences put you at higher risk for developing the condition.

2. Narrowed Airway

Did you know that sometimes the structure of your face alone can be an indication of sleep apnea? There are individuals who have a very narrow airway.

Those who do can have their adenoids and tonsils removed in order to make their sleeping easier. This is not a guaranteed fix to your sleep apnea though.

Oftentimes narrowed airways are seen in children and younger individuals. This condition is something that your doctor or dentist can identify and make you aware of.

If you have a small airway, there are methods that can be taken to try and make sleeping more comfortable. There are sleep apnea machines that can be used as a treatment to give you a comfortable and safe night’s rest.

3. Congested Nasal Passage

Going right along with those narrowed airways causing sleep apnea is congestion. When your nose is congested it makes sleeping and breathing more difficult.

Nasal congestion can be one cause of sleep apnea. If you have chronic congestion and a hard time sleeping then your problem could be explained.
Doctors will inform you if this is a condition you should note.

Some sleep congestion can also simply allergies which medication can help with. Many chronic colds and allergies can give you symptoms that mimic sleep apnea.

If your symptoms persist, then it may time to have your sleeping assessed. This serious condition is not one that is easily cleared up with medication.

4. Smoking Can Be a Factor

Believe it or not, those who smoke are at an elevated risk. Smoking cigarettes can cause your throat muscles to swell. The fluid retention and inflammation in the throat make it hard to breathe.

If you smoke and you have a hard time sleeping your problem may be due to sleep apnea. The soft tissue in your throat is constantly stimulated by the act of smoking.

Cigarette smoke creates an inflammation effect in your throat. When you breathe in tobacco it increases mucus production. This can make it difficult to swallow or even create a smoker’s cough.

If you think that smoking may be one of your problems you may want to talk to your doctor about quitting. This may help give your airway a break at night and bring down some of the swelling in your throat.

5. Obesity Can Contribute

Another major factor that can cause sleep apnea is excessive weight gain. With weight gain, there is an increase in fat around your airway. This could make it so that breathing is difficult at night.

While increased weight doesn’t always cause sleep problems, it could be a factor. If you’ve recently gained a lot of weight at once and are having trouble with sleep this could be why.

Watching what you eat and being health conscious could help you to maintain control. Weight gain can make sleep apnea symptoms worse.

6. Age could be a contributing factor if you have sleep apnea

As we all know, as you age your body changes. This could affect your throat and the muscles there. Aging causes muscles to grow weaker and your throat doesn’t escape this.

If you’re finding that sleep is becoming tougher for you you may have a problem. The throat could be showing signs of aging and the muscles may be showing distress.

As this is something that can’t be helped, medical treatment may be necessary in order to fix your sleep. A consultation with your doctor will help you to consider your options.

7. Being Male

Your gender can also affect sleep apnea.

Males are statistically more likely to be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Due to the physical structure of the male sex, a man is at higher risk.

This may be due in part to the fact that the throat structure is different than that of a female. A male’s throat is larger in capacity. then a female. This means that when men breathe at night the shape of their muscles swell more.

Women have a good chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea after menopause. Males must be on the lookout through their entire lives.

Neck circumference is another contributing factor often found in males. Thicker necks lead to thinner airways.

There Are Many Sleep Apnea Causes

Sleep apnea causes are not limited to these 7. If you have had trouble breathing and suspect that sleep apnea may be your cause, contact your doctor. Your dentist or your primary care physician may be able to help you find a definitive answer and your dentist may help you choose a dental treatment alternative for obstructive sleep apnea.

When it comes to your health, sleep apnea isn’t something to avoid. Contact us today. We can help you explore your options.