What Causes Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea syndrome is a disorder of the airways that occurs during sleep. This involuntary cessation of breathing lasts between 10 to 30 seconds. When this event occurs more than 5 times an hour overnight, the doctors believe that there is a problem.
Before starting a care process, the initial step will be to find the causes of the pathology. They can be of anatomical origin such as a voluminous tongue or tonsils, a failing nasal septum or even a relaxation of the throat muscles.
Anatomical Causes
Obstructive apnea is a total obstruction of the upper airways that prevents the person from breathing while sleeping. Different anatomical problems can be the cause of this:
- The deviation of the nasal septum, this reduces the passage of air through the nose;
- A particular form of palate, causing disturbances at the time of inspiration;
- A large size of the tonsils or tongue, it hinders the passage of air and interferes with breathing;
A relaxation of the throat muscles, they play a crucial role since they are the ones who act to let air pass through the throat. However, they can relax, which will reduce or even prevent the passage of air through the throat. This often happens in older people who have a lower muscle tone.
We also observe that 50% of apneics have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30. Indeed, the walls of the throat are thicker in a person suffering from overweight. The passage of air is therefore hampered.
This syndrome affects 2 to 3 times more men than women before the age of 60. After this age, the risks are the same for both. This is explained by different ventilatory responses, an anatomical configuration of the airways linked to sex and a greater distribution of fat in the neck in men.
Weight Gain
Disturbed nights promote weight gain and conversely being overweight is an important risk factor since the accumulated fat, including in the tongue, will eventually block the passage of air into the nose and throat. This is why pregnant women are particularly exposed to sleep disorders. “It’s not just a hormonal issue, it’s the fact that we are seeing a change in the distribution of fat; all these anatomical changes are likely to cause apnea ”, warns the specialist. One more reason when expecting a child to pay attention to his lifestyle and especially not to drink a drop of wine. A glass of alcohol in the evening, there is nothing better for snorkeling!
Genetic Causes
Studies have also found that inheritance plays an important role. There is 1.5 to 2 times more risks of being freediving for a person whose close relative is also free. The genetic aspect of craniofacial morphology is at the origin of this: it plays a major role in OSA.
Sleep Apnea: Positional Causes
Sleeping on your back can greatly promote sleep apnea. In this position, the lower jaw and the tongue can more easily move back when the muscles relax during sleep. The airways are therefore blocked. It is a type of obstructive apnea called positional sleep apnea (sleeping on your back promotes apnea by more than 50%). Some people only get apnea when they sleep on their backs. This is called exclusive positional SAOS.
Sleep Apnea: Aggravating Causes
However, certain elements can also favor this disorder.
As explained earlier, age is a factor that increases the risk of sleep apnea. We observe that people over 65 are 2 to 3 times more affected by this disorder. Indeed, the throat muscles of the elderly have more difficulty acting to let air pass when sleep inhibits the muscles.
Finally, consuming alcohol or certain medications such as anxiolytics and sleeping pills makes the situation worse. This results in the relaxation of the throat muscles. As we have seen previously, the relaxation of these muscles causes discomfort in the passage of air and causes apneas.
Risk Factors
This disorder can affect anyone, child or adult, man or woman. However, certain factors can increase the risk:
- The circumference of the neck. People with a wide neck may have narrower airways.
- There is a higher prevalence of men affected by this disorder. But for women, there are more risks after menopause.
- This disorder is much more common in the elderly.
- Family history. Some families are more affected by this disorder than others.
- Consumption of alcohol, tranquilizers, and sedatives. These substances relax the muscles which can worsen the obstruction of the airways.
- The tobacco. Smokers are more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea because smoking can increase inflammation and water retention in the upper respiratory tract.
- Nasal congestion. Due to an anatomical problem or an allergy, this obstruction can promote apnea.
A relaxation of the throat muscles, they play a crucial role since they are the ones who act to let air pass through the throat. However, they can relax, which will reduce or even prevent the passage of air through the throat. This often happens in older people who have a lower muscle tone.
We also observe that 50% of apneics have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30. Indeed, the walls of the throat are thicker in a person suffering from overweight. The passage of air is therefore hampered.
This syndrome affects 2 to 3 times more men than women before the age of 60. After this age, the risks are the same for both. This is explained by different ventilatory responses, an anatomical configuration of the airways linked to sex and a greater distribution of fat in the neck in men.
Weight Gain
Disturbed nights promote weight gain and conversely being overweight is an important risk factor since the accumulated fat, including in the tongue, will eventually block the passage of air into the nose and throat. This is why pregnant women are particularly exposed to sleep disorders. “It’s not just a hormonal issue, it’s the fact that we are seeing a change in the distribution of fat; all these anatomical changes are likely to cause apnea ”, warns the specialist. One more reason when expecting a child to pay attention to his lifestyle and especially not to drink a drop of wine. A glass of alcohol in the evening, there is nothing better for snorkeling!
Genetic Causes
Studies have also found that inheritance plays an important role. There is 1.5 to 2 times more risks of being freediving for a person whose close relative is also free. The genetic aspect of craniofacial morphology is at the origin of this: it plays a major role in OSA.
Sleep Apnea: Positional Causes
Sleeping on your back can greatly promote sleep apnea. In this position, the lower jaw and the tongue can more easily move back when the muscles relax during sleep. The airways are therefore blocked. It is a type of obstructive apnea called positional sleep apnea (sleeping on your back promotes apnea by more than 50%). Some people only get apnea when they sleep on their backs. This is called exclusive positional SAOS.
Sleep Apnea: Aggravating Causes
However, certain elements can also favor this disorder.
As explained earlier, age is a factor that increases the risk of sleep apnea. We observe that people over 65 are 2 to 3 times more affected by this disorder. Indeed, the throat muscles of the elderly have more difficulty acting to let air pass when sleep inhibits the muscles.
Finally, consuming alcohol or certain medications such as anxiolytics and sleeping pills makes the situation worse. This results in the relaxation of the throat muscles. As we have seen previously, the relaxation of these muscles causes discomfort in the passage of air and causes apneas.
Risk Factors
This disorder can affect anyone, child or adult, man or woman. However, certain factors can increase the risk:
- The circumference of the neck. People with a wide neck may have narrower airways.
- There is a higher prevalence of men affected by this disorder. But for women, there are more risks after menopause.
- This disorder is much more common in the elderly.
- Family history. Some families are more affected by this disorder than others.
- Consumption of alcohol, tranquilizers, and sedatives. These substances relax the muscles which can worsen the obstruction of the airways.
- The tobacco. Smokers are more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea because smoking can increase inflammation and water retention in the upper respiratory tract.
- Nasal congestion. Due to an anatomical problem or an allergy, this obstruction can promote apnea.