Sleep Apnea Treatment in Calgary

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

In addition to stopping breathing while sleeping, which would be reported to you by another person, symptoms of sleep apnea also include:

• Snoring loudly
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime drowsiness (hypersomnia)
• Problems focusing while awake
• Irritability

The Causes of Sleep Apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and a combination of both called complex sleep apnea syndrome.

Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

There are a variety of factors that can increase your chances of developing either obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea risk factors include:

• A narrow airway: Your genetic makeup may have caused you to be born with a narrow airway. Tonsils and adenoids can also become enlarged, narrowing the airway. This is particularly common in children.
• Your neck circumference: Individuals with thick necks are more likely to have narrow airways.
• Excessive weight: Obesity increases your chances of developing sleep apnea because fat deposits around your upper airway can obstruct your breathing.
• Smoking: Smoking is responsible for a wide variety of health problems including sleep apnea. Individuals who smoke are nearly three times as likely to develop sleep apnea than individuals who have never smoked. Smoking can cause your upper airway to retain fluids and become inflamed, restricting how much oxygen you can get in one breath.
• Nasal congestion: Individuals that have problems breathing through their nose, either because of the shape of your nose or allergies, have an increased chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea.
• Your sex: Men are nearly three times more likely than women to develop sleep apnea. However, women have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea if they are overweight or have reached menopause.
• Your age: Older adults are more likely to develop sleep apnea than younger adults.
• Your family history: Having a family history of sleep apnea may increase your chances of developing the condition yourself.

Central sleep apnea risk factors include:

• Your age: Middle-aged and elderly individuals have a higher risk of developing central sleep apnea than young adults and children.
• Your sex: Central sleep apnea is more common in men than in women.
• Having a heart disorder: Congestive heart failure increases your chances of developing central sleep apnea.
• Using narcotic pain medication: Opioid medications, particularly long-acting medications like methadone, increase your chances of developing central sleep apnea
• Having a stroke: Having a stroke increases your chance of developing central sleep apnea.

Managing Sleep Apnea

Though there is no cure for sleep apnea, this condition can be managed, and its symptoms can be eased. For more information about sleep apnea treatments, or to request an appointment, please contact us.