What Is Sleep Apnea and Can It Be Cured?

Many heart patients suffer from sleep apnea, which can lead to other conditions if left untreated. There are different kinds of sleep apnea, different causes, and different treatment options available. But one very important question is, can sleep apnea be cured?

In this article, I’ll answer this question and discuss everything else you want to know about this life-altering condition.

And if you’re wondering why getting adequate sleep is so critical to health, check out this article on why sleeping is important.

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What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses can last several seconds to a minute or more and may occur multiple times throughout the night.

According to the American College of Cardiology, about 18 million American adults suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea affects about 50% of those suffering from heart failure or atrial fibrillation and 33% of people with hypertension and coronary artery disease!

If you have at least five episodes of 10-second pauses in breathing per hour while sleeping, you most likely have sleep apnea.

There are many other tell-tale signs of sleep apnea that you or your partner may notice.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Symptoms of sleep apnea may include:

• Loud and persistent snoring
• Episodes of gasping or choking during sleep
• Pauses in breathing during sleep, which a partner may notice
• Daytime sleepiness or fatigue, even after a good night’s sleep
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
• Morning headaches
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
• Mood changes such as irritability or depression
• High blood pressure

Suppose you are experiencing any of these symptoms. In this case, it is important to speak with your doctor, who can evaluate your symptoms and provide a proper diagnosis.

Sleep apnea can increase your risk of developing other health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression (1). Sleep apnea symptoms can also affect work performance and increase your risk of accidents while driving or operating machinery.

Is Sleep Apnea Genetic?

There is evidence that having a family member with obstructive sleep apnea increases your chances of developing it.

Research from the journal Respirology states that individuals with a family history of sleep apnea are about 40% more likely to develop the condition themselves.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea has many causes, including a narrow airway, obesity, or neurological conditions that affect breathing. These causes are related to physical, lifestyle, and medical conditions. Let’s talk more about these causes.

Physical Causes

There are many physical causes of sleep apnea. You may experience one or a combination of these.

Some physical causes can be corrected with surgery, while others may be corrected with lifestyle changes. These physical causes include:

• Obstructed Airway: The most common cause of sleep apnea is an obstructed airway, which can be caused by several factors, such as enlarged tonsils, excess weight, or a narrow throat.
• Obesity: Excess weight can accumulate fat around the neck, which can obstruct the airway and contribute to sleep apnea.
• Aging: As people age, the muscles in the throat may weaken, making it more challenging to keep the airway open during sleep.
• Nasal Congestion: Chronic nasal congestion due to allergies or other conditions can make breathing difficult through the nose during sleep, leading to sleep apnea.
• Facial or Jaw Abnormalities: Structural abnormalities in the face or jaw, such as a small jaw or a deviated septum, can contribute to sleep apnea.
• Neurological Conditions: Certain neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or brain injury can affect the ability to breathe during sleep, leading to sleep apnea.

Lifestyle Causes

Next, there are lifestyle factors related to sleep apnea. These are things you can adjust in your life to help improve sleep apnea symptoms. These lifestyle causes include:

• Excess weight: Being of a higher weight is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea, as the extra weight can cause fat to accumulate around the neck, narrowing the airway.
• Alcohol and sedatives: Alcohol and sedatives can relax the muscles in the throat, making it more likely that the airway will become blocked during sleep.
• Smoking: Smoking can cause inflammation and fluid retention in the airway, making it more difficult to breathe during sleep.
• Sleeping position: Sleeping on your back can make it more likely that the airway will become blocked during sleep, as gravity can cause the tongue and other tissues in the throat to fall back and block the airway.
• Poor sleep hygiene: Poor sleep habits such as irregular sleep schedules, insufficient sleep, and poor sleep quality can contribute to sleep apnea.
• Poor diet: A diet high in processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats may increase the risk of sleep apnea.

Medical Causes

Finally, there are medical causes of sleep apnea. These include health conditions and medications that may increase one’s risk of sleep apnea.

Health Conditions

Certain medical conditions and diagnoses are linked to sleep apnea and may increase risk. These conditions include:

• Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland can cause hormonal imbalances that affect the muscles in the throat, making it challenging to keep the airway open during sleep.
• Acromegaly: A condition that causes the body to produce too much growth hormone, which can enlarge soft tissues in the throat, contributing to sleep apnea.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Women with PCOS are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea due to hormonal imbalances that affect the muscles in the throat.
• Congestive heart failure: People with congestive heart failure may develop sleep apnea due to fluid buildup in the lungs and airway, making it more difficult to breathe during sleep.
• Neuromuscular disorders: Certain neuromuscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis, can affect the muscles involved in breathing, contributing to sleep apnea.
• Parkinson’s disease: Parkinson’s disease can affect the muscles involved in breathing, making it more difficult to maintain a regular breathing pattern during sleep.

Medications

Certain medications can also contribute to symptoms of sleep apnea- specifically, central nervous system depressants, including muscle relaxants, narcotics, alcohol, and hypnotic drugs. Additionally, individuals who are already susceptible to heart diseases may have a higher incidence when taking these medications (2).

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are different types of sleep apnea. In fact, there are three types of sleep apnea. Let’s go over each one briefly.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is the most common type of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, approximately 936 million adults aged 30 to 69 years have mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and 425 million adults aged between 30 and 69 years have moderate to severe OSAS.

There is even a condition called hypopnea, which is the partial blockage of air through your airway.

Risk factors for OSA are seen in TABLE 1 below. It is more prevalent in men than women. Additionally, the risk of developing sleep apnea increases with age and obesity (3).

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is another type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe during sleep.

This condition is severe, as it disrupts standard sleep patterns, potentially leading to dangerous health conditions. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is rare, affecting <1% of the population. However, it is common in those with heart failure.

Risk factors for CSA are seen in TABLE 1 below.

Cheyne-Stokes Respirations

I cannot discuss central sleep apnea without mentioning Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR).

Cheyne-Stokes respirations are the characteristic waxing and waning breathing patterns that is common in those with central sleep apnea and congestive heart failure. They occur when there are long pauses in breathing followed by episodes of hyperventilation or shallow, rapid breathing (4).

This pattern is often seen near the end of life and can last hours to days.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea	Central Sleep Apnea
Excess weight	Male
Male	>50 years of age
>50 years of age	Heart disease
Family History	Narcotics
Smoking	History of stroke
Nasal congestion
Medical conditions

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, is a type of sleep apnea that occurs when someone with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) develops central sleep apnea (CSA) after using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

Therefore, it is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea AND central sleep apnea. This requires a more comprehensive approach to treatment, including using a CPAP machine with adjusted pressure settings to help stabilize breathing during sleep.

Complex sleep apnea has the same symptoms and health risks as other apneas.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

There are several ways to diagnose sleep apnea. Some require simple scans, while others require a visit to a special facility with an overnight stay. Here are a few tests your doctor may recommend for you if they suspect you have sleep apnea:

Medical Tests– These include sleep latency testing, which evaluates daytime sleepiness; blood tests to assess for specific medical conditions that may be contributing; or imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to assess the structure of your airway.

Polysomnography– This is the most common test used to diagnose sleep apnea. It involves spending a night in a sleep lab connected to equipment that monitors various bodily functions during sleep, including brain activity, eye movement, heart rate, breathing, and oxygen levels.

Home Sleep Apnea Testing– This test involves wearing a portable device that monitors your breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate while you sleep in your bed at home. It’s typically recommended for people with a high likelihood of moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

Getting diagnosed with sleep apnea is not a death sentence. Here are a few treatment options, including many lifestyle changes you can make to help alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms.

To learn more about lifestyle changes that may help, read “5 Things You Can Do to Support Heart Health NOW“.

Exercise and Weight Loss

Regular exercise can help improve overall health and reduce excess weight, which reduces your risk of developing sleep apnea. Exercise can also enhance the quality of sleep and reduce daytime sleepiness.

To support weight loss, follow a balanced diet low in calories and high in fiber.

Limiting sodium in your diet can also help reduce fluid retention, especially if you have heart disease. Avoid processed foods and add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Many heart-healthy diets, including the Mediterranean and DASH diets, can promote weight loss and I highly recommend them! These diets are high in anti-inflammatory plant-based foods. Inflammation can contribute to sleep apnea symptoms, so reducing it through dietary changes may be helpful.

Some recipes to try:

• Mediterranean Diet Oatmeal (With Bonus Oats Review)
• Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
• Best Kale Salad Ever!

Avoiding Alcohol and Sedatives

Alcohol and sedatives are central nervous system depressants that can cause relaxation of the upper airway muscles and impair the brain’s ability to control breathing during sleep, leading to sleep apnea.

Alcohol is shown to increase the number and severity of sleep apnea episodes in healthy individuals and those with preexisting sleep apnea. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that even moderate alcohol consumption can significantly increase sleep apnea events and oxygen desaturation during sleep (5). This relationship was noted explicitly for males in this study, not females.

Sedatives, including benzodiazepines and barbiturates, can also increase the risk of sleep apnea by relaxing the upper airway muscles and reducing the drive to breathe. A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that the use of sedatives was associated with an increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing, including sleep apnea, in those with a recent myocardial infarction (6).

Smoking Cessation

Smoking can contribute to inflammation, fluid retention, and irritation of the airways, which can worsen sleep apnea symptoms. Quitting smoking or avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke can help.

Related article: How Can Refraining From Smoking Benefit an Individual’s Health?

Good Sleep Habits

Maintaining good sleep habits can help improve sleep quality and reduce sleep apnea symptoms. This includes establishing a regular sleep schedule, creating a relaxing sleep environment, and avoiding screen time before bed.

Related article: Why Sleeping Is Important for Health [And How To Get More!]

Positional Therapy

Sleeping position relates to sleep apnea because, depending on your position, you could be restricting your airway, making it more difficult to breathe throughout the night.

For example, sleeping on your back increases the likelihood of your airway becoming blocked, as gravity can cause the tongue and other tissues in the throat to fall back and block the airway.

Something as simple as changing your sleep position can improve sleep apnea. So, what is the best sleeping position for sleep apnea?

Sleeping on your side instead of your back can help reduce sleep apnea symptoms.

Proper pillow support is also highly recommended. Some people find using a special pillow or device to encourage side-sleeping helpful. This supports your head and neck, keeping them in the best possible position while you sleep.

Stress Reduction

Stress can contribute to poor sleep quality and worsen sleep apnea symptoms. Incorporating stress-reducing activities such as meditation or deep breathing exercises can help. Making stress reduction a part of your bedtime routine is also a good practice.

Adult coloring books are also available to aid in stress reduction. I’ve even created one just for heart patients!

Related article: Maintaining a Healthful Diet During Times of Stress

CPAP Therapy

CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which uses a machine to deliver a constant flow of air to keep the airway open during sleep. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, this is the gold standard of all sleep apnea treatment options (7).

While CPAP use is very beneficial and effective, many people do not like the claustrophobic feeling they get from using the mask or having to wear it overnight.

Additionally, only 20-80% of people using a CPAP machine actually adhere to the guidelines for use (7).

Oral Appliances

These are dental devices that you can use to treat your sleep apnea at night. They can be mandibular advancement devices, mouth guards, or tongue-retaining devices. These work by helping to position your jaw or tongue to open your upper airway.

According to one Harvard doctor, these appliances can be uncomfortable and only work 50% of the time. However, another study reports that oral appliances are becoming more popular due to their lower cost, portability, and convenience when compared to a CPAP that needs a power source.

Patented and custom-made appliances are available for sleep apnea treatment.

Surgical Options

Surgery is typically considered a last resort, when other treatments such as lifestyle changes, oral appliances, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, have not been effective.

Some surgical options for sleep apnea include:

1. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): This is the most common surgical procedure for sleep apnea and involves removing the excess tissue from the throat, including the uvula, tonsils, and part of the soft palate.
2. Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA): This procedure involves moving the upper and lower jaws forward to enlarge the space in the airway and reduce airway obstruction.
3. Nasal surgery: Surgery to correct structural abnormalities in the nasal passages, such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps, may be recommended for people with sleep apnea who also have nasal obstruction.
4. Tracheostomy: A tracheostomy may be recommended in rare cases of severe sleep apnea. This procedure involves creating a hole in the neck and inserting a tube into the windpipe to bypass the upper airway obstruction.

Remember, with any surgical procedure, there are risks and potential complications. You should also talk to your doctor about the risks versus the benefits in order to make an informed decision.

Alternative Therapies

Finally, in terms of treatment options for sleep apnea, there are alternative therapies, including 1) acupuncture and 2) hypoglossal nerve stimulation.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body to help reduce inflammation and improve breathing. Studies show that acupuncture may effectively treat both sleep apnea and hypopnea (8).

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is a therapy that involves surgically implanting a device that electrically stimulates the hypoglossal nerve to help keep the airway open during sleep. This may be an option if you have moderate or severe OSA, if you don’t qualify for a CPAP machine, or if you have difficulty tolerating a CPAP.

Success Rates of Various Treatment Options

With any of these treatment options for sleep apnea, your success rate is highly related to how compliant you are with your treatment. As I mentioned above, a CPAP machine is the gold standard. However, you have to use it consistently. Or if prescribed an oral device, you have to wear it every single night.

The success rate for surgical options varies from 25% to 100%, with most studies reporting a 50-70% success rate (8).

If you are deciding between a CPAP and an oral appliance, the Mayo Clinic reports that a CPAPs are more effective than oral appliances for treating sleep apnea (9).

Can Sleep Apnea Kill You?

While this thought is very alarming, you are not likely to die directly from sleep apnea. However, conditions related to sleep apnea can decrease your life expectancy if left untreated.

For example, sleep apnea can lead to heart disease, which puts you at a higher risk of having a stroke or cardiac arrest, which could lead to death.

Can Sleep Apnea be Cured?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of cure means “recovery or relief from a disease.” So, in this sense, it seems there are ways to “cure” sleep apnea.

Multiple dietary and lifestyle recommendations can be followed daily to treat, relieve, and possibly resolve your sleep apnea symptoms.

FAQ

Conclusion

If you’re wondering if sleep apnea can be cured, it really depends on several factors, some of which include YOUR compliance with treatment options.

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can lead to other health issues and decrease your life expectancy if you don’t seek help for it. Furthermore, certain medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and medications can increase your likelihood of developing sleep apnea.

Fortunately, there are many treatment options available. The first steps usually involve encouraging weight loss through exercise, a healthy diet, and the use of a CPAP machine.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, seek medical attention and undergo proper testing and diagnosis from your doctor. With appropriate treatment, most people with sleep apnea can improve their symptoms, get better sleep, and increase their quality of life!

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