What are the causes of sleep apnea

･ when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially block the opening of the airway. ･ when the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula relax and sag, the airway …

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When you’re awake, throat muscles help keep your airway stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs. When you sleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Normally, the relaxed throat muscles don’t stop your airway from staying open to allow a…

http://www.restassuredhme.com/FAQ.html#causes

The most common form of this condition is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the tissues of the throat completely obstruct the airway intermittently during the night. Some of the causes include obesity, abnormality of the jaw or thr…

http://www.phsor.org/alaska/services/sleep_disorders/faqs.htm#7

Related Questions Answered on Y!Answers

What exactly is scarring from a septoplasty that causes sleep apnea?

Q: I had septoplasty they think I have scarring that is now causing sleep apnea how is that possible my roof of my mouth vibrates and my snoring increased after the septoplasty. What happened? He is doing a sleep study but cant you tell some other way?Is this a sign of a bad surgeon? Move septum vibrates too and the roof of mouth only when I sleep? Im not fat it was the surgery

A: Sleep apnea is an obstruction somewhere in the airway. It can be caused by a number of things. Scar tissue is very likely cause. Sleep apnea surgery does not work for many people because the scarring is actually worse than the original problemMy question to you is did you snore before your nose job. If so you probably had OSA previously. Many people do. Sleep apnea is found in people of all sizes and shapes. Kids get SA as well.When you have the sleep study, you can ask many questions to the sleep techs and the doctor at the follow up.Best wishes

What causes Sleep Apnea?

Q: I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea…I will be on a oxygen machine startin this week. What causes this condition?

A: being over weight is the main one. Having an enlarged uvula can cause it, being super exhausted can cause it. But the main one that health care professionals agree upon is weighing too much. If you are over weight, you need to loose the weight big time.Some times a bite block that is molded for your jaw to pull your bottom jaw forward some while you sleep can help if it is dealing with your tongue getting in the way of your esophagus and trachea openings.Hope this helps.

What are the causes of sleep apnea?

Q: I have to write a paper and in this paper I have to write about different disorders?Can anyone help?

A: What is Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood. Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.Sleep apnea may be characterized by choking sensations. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness. Certain mechanical and structural problems in the airway may cause interruptions (apneic events) in breathing during sleep. In some people, apnea occurs when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially block the opening of the airway. When the muscles of the soft palate at the base of the tongue and the uvula (the small fleshy tissue hanging from the center of the back of the throat) relax and sag, the airway becomes blocked, making breathing labored and noisy and even stopping it altogether. Sleep apnea also can occur in obese people when an excess amount of tissue in the airway causes it to be narrowed. With a narrowed airway, the person continues his or her efforts to breathe, but air cannot easily flow into or out of the nose or mouth. Unknown to the person, this results in heavy snoring, periods of no breathing, and frequent arousals (causing abrupt changes from deep sleep to light sleep). Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes, but is more common in men. People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those who snore loudly, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have some physical abnormality in the nose, throat, or other parts of the upper airway. For more detailed information, go to our LINKS page. What are the effects of Sleep Apnea?Because of the serious disturbances in their normal sleep patterns, people with sleep apnea often feel very sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance suffer. The consequences of sleep apnea range from annoying to life-threatening. They could include depression, irritability, sexual dysfunction, learning and memory difficulties, and falling asleep during the day. Although it is not known with certainty if there is a cause and effect relationship, it appears that sleep apnea contributes to high blood pressure. Risk for heart attack and stroke may also increase in those with sleep apnea. When should Sleep Apnea be suspected?For many sleep apnea sufferers, their spouses are the first ones to suspect that something is wrong, usually from their heavy snoring and apparent struggle to breathe. Co-workers or friends of the sleep apnea victim may notice that the individual falls asleep during the day at inappropriate times. The person often does not know he or she has a problem and may not believe it when told. It is important that the person see a doctor for evaluation of the breathing problem. How is Sleep Apnea diagnosed?In addition to the primary care physician, pulmonologists, neurologists, or other physicians with specialty training in sleep disorders may be involved in making a definitive diagnosis and initiating treatment. Several tests are available for evaluating a person for sleep apnea. Polysomnography is a test that records a variety of body functions during sleep, such as the electrical activity of the brain, eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, respiration effort, air flow, and blood oxygen levels. These tests are used both to diagnose sleep apnea and to determine its severity.The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) measures the speed of falling asleep. In this test, patients are given several opportunities to fall asleep during the course of the day when they would normally be awake. For each opportunity, time to fall asleep is measured. People without sleep problems usually take an average of 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. Individuals who fall asleep in less than 5 minutes are likely to require some treatment for sleep disorders. The MSLT may be useful to measure the degree of excessive daytime sleepiness and to rule out other types of sleep disorders.How is Sleep Apnea treated?Behavioral TherapyBehavioral changes are an important part of the treatment program, and in mild cases, behavioral therapy may be all that is needed. The individual should avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills, which make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and prolong the apneic periods. Overweight persons can benefit from losing weight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients. In some patients with mild sleep apnea, breathing interruptions occur only when they sleep on their backs. In such cases, using pillows and other devices that help them sleep in a side position is sometimes helpful. Physical or Mechanical TherapyNasal positive airway pressure therapy is the most common and effective treatment for sleep apnea. With this therapy, the patient may wear a SleepNet Phantom Nasal Mask or IQ Nasal Mask, sometimes referred to as an interface, over the nose during sleep, while pressure from an air blower forces air through the nasal passages. There are various types of positive airway pressure devices available to treat sleep apnea CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and bi-level positive airway pressure systems were the original modes of sleep apnea therapy. These systems provide a level of air pressure to prevent the airway from collapsing or narrowing.