What is Sleep Apnea? Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

Sleep is vital for our well-being, but for many, it's disrupted by sleep apnea—a condition that causes breathing pauses during sleep. These interruptions can lead to poor sleep quality and health issues.¹ Understanding sleep apnea can be your first step toward better rest if you wake up tired, snore loudly, or have sleep concerns. This blog covers the causes, symptoms, and treatments of sleep apnea, helping you identify if it's affecting you and what steps you can take.  

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where your breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep.^¹ Imagine waking up feeling tired, even after a full night's rest—this is often the reality for those with sleep apnea. The condition occurs when your airway is partly or completely blocked, causing you to stop breathing for short periods ^² These interruptions can happen multiple times a night, leaving you feeling exhausted and affecting your overall health. Understanding the causes of sleep apnea, such as a blocked airway, is the first step toward finding the right treatment and improving your sleep.  

Sleep Apnea: Symptoms

Sleep apnea can affect your daily well-being, often without you realizing it. Watch for these common signs:  

• Loud snoring: Typically, the first noticeable symptom, caused by a partially blocked airway.^³⁴ 

• Pauses in breathing during sleep: Breathing may stop for several seconds, happening multiple times a night.^³⁴ 

• Gasping for breath during sleep: Often follows a pause in breathing as you suddenly resume airflow.^³⁴ 

• Frequent awakenings and morning headaches: Caused by disrupted sleep and reduced oxygen levels.^³⁴ 

• Daytime fatigue and irritability: Poor-quality sleep can leave you feeling drained and moody.^³⁴ 
    

Types of Sleep Apnea  

There are three types of sleep apnea—obstructive, central, and mixed³—that differ in how they interrupt breathing. While obstructive sleep apnea stems from a blocked airway, central sleep apnea involves a brain signal issue, and mixed sleep apnea combines both problems.  

Obstructive Sleep Apnea 

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea you can get.² It occurs when soft tissues in your throat or nose collapse, blocking airflow and causing you to briefly stop breathing.^⁶ These pauses often trigger loud snoring, sudden gasps, and frequent awakenings—so you wake up feeling unrested.^⁶ 

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea happens when your brain forgets to tell your breathing muscles to work, rather than there being a blockage.^⁷ Your diaphragm and chest pause, so you briefly stop breathing, even though your airway is clear.^⁸ These silent pauses can leave you exhausted, foggy, and craving a good night’s rest. Because central sleep apnea has a different cause, it often requires specialized sleep apnea treatment.^⁸ 

Mixed Sleep Apnea  

Mixed sleep apnea combines both obstructive and central sleep apnea in one. You’ll experience airway blockages and pauses in breathing effort, so your sleep gets interrupted from two sides. Since mixed sleep apnea involves two different sleep apnea causes, it usually needs a tailored sleep apnea treatment plan that tackles both the blockage and the brain’s breathing signals.^⁹  

Causes of Sleep Apnea

 The causes of sleep apnea depend on which type you're dealing with—obstructive or central. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) usually happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much while you sleep. This can cause your airway to narrow or close completely, making it hard to breathe. Snoring often goes hand in hand with this and can affect how well your body takes in oxygen. Things like age, weight, and even your genes can increase the chances of developing OSA.^¹⁰ 

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a bit different. It’s not about a blocked airway—it’s about the brain not sending the right signals to your breathing muscles. So, your body just pauses breathing for a few seconds at a time. 

Sleep Apnea Treatment  

 The main aim of sleep apnea treatment is to cut down on those frustrating breathing pauses so you can finally wake up feeling refreshed.^¹¹ 

Using a CPAP machine is like having a gentle breeze keep your airway open all night. The device pumps air through a mask at just the right pressure, stopping interruptions without surgery or meds.^¹¹ 

Simple tweaks in one’s lifestyle can make a big difference, too. Shedding extra pounds and staying active lightens the load on your throat.¹³ Cutting back on evening drinks helps keep your airway muscles firm. And sticking to sleep-friendly habits—think regular bedtimes and a tech-free bedroom—sets the stage for smoother breathing.^¹² 

FAQs

1. What is sleep apnea and how is it different from regular snoring?

   
   Sleep apnea is more than just loud snoring—it’s a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. While snoring may just be noisy breathing, sleep apnea can disrupt oxygen flow, leading to poor sleep quality and long-term health issues. Only a sleep study can accurately diagnose the condition and distinguish it from benign snoring.¹ 

2. Can sleep apnea go away on its own, or does it always need treatment?

 Most people with moderate to severe sleep apnea need ongoing support—often through medical interventions like CPAP therapy or other prescribed treatments—to manage symptoms and avoid complications.  

3. How long does sleep apnea treatment usually take to show results?

   
   The effectiveness and timing of sleep apnea treatment can vary depending on the type and severity of the condition, as well as the treatment method used. Some people notice improvements in energy, focus, and sleep quality within just a few days of starting therapy, especially with CPAP. Others may need a few weeks to adjust or see changes. Long-term consistency is key—ongoing treatment and regular follow-ups help ensure the best outcome over time. 

4. What causes sleep apnea to develop in otherwise healthy people? 

   
   A sleep apnea cause can be linked to multiple risk factors, even in people who appear otherwise healthy. For example, neck circumference, facial structure, or genetics may contribute to a narrow airway.⁴ Lifestyle habits like alcohol use or poor sleep posture can also increase the likelihood of airway collapse during sleep, leading to obstructive sleep apnea. 

References:  

1. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/always-tired-you-may-have-sleep-apnea 
2. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/obstructive-sleep-apnoea  
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea#symptoms-and-causes  
4. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/sleep-apnea  
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17040008/  
6. https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-disorders/obstructive-sleep-apnoea  
7. https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-disorders/central-sleep-apnoea-csa 
8. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/central-sleep-apnea  
9. https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.27272 
10. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/obstructive-sleep-apnoea  
11. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea#treatments-for-sleep-apnea-6
12. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea 
13. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea/weight-loss-and-sleep-apnea