Apnea FAQ

Can you tell if someone has apnea?

While it takes a polysomnogram (PSG), also called a "sleep study" to diagnose apnea, you can often tell if someone has apnea if you listen while the person sleeps. There are several typical telltale signs of apnea. The first sign would be a person who snores (often very loud). Somewhere during the person's snoring, there is a brief period of silence which lasts anywhere from ten seconds to two minutes. That silence is followed by a loud snort or gasp as the person again begins to breathe.

What exactly is apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder, which clinically defined, means a person stops breathing while sleeping for a period of at least 10 seconds, and can occur from several times an hour to several hundred times a night, or more. The telltale signs of apnea are excessive daytime sleepiness and a compromised quality of life, including an overflow into social and emotional areas.

Is there more than one kind of apnea?

Actually, yes there are. There are actually two distinct types of apnea, and then a third, which is a combination of the two. The first is “obstructive sleep apnea,” or OSA, and is defined by the cessation of breathing due to mechanical blockage of the airway. The second type of apnea is known as “central sleep apnea,” or CSA. This second type of apnea, CSA, appears to be related to a malfunction of the brain’s normal signal to the body that it is time to take a breath. The third type is called "mixed apnea," and is a combination of both obstructive and central apnea.

How common is sleep apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, also referred to as OSA, is the most common of the 80+ sleep disorders. OSA affects people at any age -- from newborns to adults. It doesn't discriminate based on sex, either. It's estimated that at least two percent of all women and four percent of all men have sleep apnea. Conservative estimates from noted researchers say that four percent of all men and two percent of all women suffer apnea, and may be more common than diabetes.

How is sleep apnea treated?

First, anyone with obstructive and/or central apnea should avoid central nervous system depressants, such as alcoholic beverages, sedatives, and narcotics. Most people are treated with a device known as a nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nasal CPAP). Nasal CPAP uses a mask-like device, along with a regulated air pump to create a pneumatic splint which maintains an open airway. Some people opt for surgical options, hoping to be able to widen their airway, often caused by anatomical defects.

What are the benefits to treating my apnea?

Eliminating the obstruction usually reverses the commonly associated pulmonary and systemic hypertension and cardiac problems of obstructive apnea. Untreated, sleep apnea can greatly affect daytime functioning. Sleep apnea sufferers have a tendency to fall asleep during the day, a potentially deadly consequence of the disorder.

Can untreated apnea be dangerous?

Problems associated with untreated sleep apnea include hypertension; coronary artery disease; myocardial infarction; stroke; psychiatric problems; impotence; cognitive dysfunction; memory loss; and death. Prompt and proper diagnosis of sleep apnea is an important first step to treating the disorder.

Who gets apnea?

While there is no steadfast rule, apnea is most commonly seen in middle-aged men, usually overweight, with thick necks. The general rule of thumb, which has been followed for several years, is if you are a male with a neck 17" or thicker, or a female, with a neck 16" or thicker, you could be a candidate. Other symptoms include snoring, which is one of the tell-tale signs. It is interesting to note that note everyone who snores has apnea, but almost everyone who has apnea snores.

Other symptoms to look for:

As of October 1, 2002 at 11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the U.S. population was 
288,181,442. With estimates that about five percent of the population suffers from

obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially

14,409,072 apneics in the U.S.

As of October 1, 2002 at 11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the world population was 
6,253,616,576. With estimates that about five percent of the population suffers 
from obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially

312,680,829 apneics in the world.

Awake In Philly is a support group for individuals who have been diagnosed with at least one of the recognized sleep disorders, as well as anyone else impacted by those with sleep disorders. The information on the Awake In Philly website is not intended to replace medical advice, nor is any information to be misinterpreted as an attempt to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

If you have questions about any of the medical conditions mentioned on this website, especially if you suspect that you (or someone you know) has sleep apnea, please contact a qualified medical professional immediately. The information is intended to provide support, guidance, and encouragement to others contending with the many challenges of sleep disorders. The goals of Awake In Philly are to support, educate, and inform those who feel the impact of sleep disorders, as well as the general public. Medical advice should only come from qualified, licensed, and trained health-care professionals.