Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. These interruptions can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night—often without the person knowing—leading to poor sleep quality and serious health risks if untreated.

Types of Sleep Apnea

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (most common)

• Caused by a blocked or collapsed airway, usually when soft tissue at the back of the throat relaxes too much during sleep
• More common in adults, but can affect childrentoo

2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

• Brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
• Less common; often related to neurological conditions or heart failure

3. Complex Sleep Apnea

• A combination of OSA and CSA

Common Signs & Symptoms

• Loud, chronic snoring
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Pauses in breathing(often noticed by a partner)
• Daytime fatigue or sleepiness, even after a full night’s sleep
• Morning headaches
• Trouble focusing or irritability
• In children: bedwetting, hyperactivity, or poor school performance

Why It Matters

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems like:

• High blood pressure
• Heart diseaseand stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression and anxiety
• Accidents due to fatigue(driving, work-related)

Diagnosis

• Usually diagnosed through a sleep study(polysomnography) done overnight at a clinic or at home
• Tracks breathing, oxygen levels, brain activity, heart rate, and more

Treatment Options

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

1. CPAP Machine(most common treatment)
   • Delivers air through a mask to keep the airway open
2. Oral Appliances
   • Custom-made by a dentist or orthodontistto reposition the jaw or tongue
3. Lifestyle Changes
   • Weight loss, avoiding alcohol or sedatives, changing sleep positions
4. Surgery(for severe or structural causes)
   • Options include removing tissue, jaw surgery, or implants
5. Orthodontic Expansion or Myofunctional Therapy(especially in kids)
   • Helps correct structural issues in the jaw or airway