How Often Does Sleep Apnea Occur?

Some health issues, like diabetes or cardiovascular disease, are long-term problems that require diligent monitoring. Other conditions, such as the common cold or minor injuries, are issues that only happen every once in a while. Which category does sleep apnea fall into? Does it require regular management, or is it a problem that comes and goes? Let’s discuss this important question.

Ongoing or Occasional?

An apnea is a short period wherein you do not breathe at night. In obstructive sleep apnea, apneas occur when the soft tissues in the mouth or throat block the airway. In some individuals, these airway obstructions only occur every once in a while. For example, if you have a cold or seasonal allergies, that can affect your airflow at night. Drinking alcohol before bedtime could also cause your throat muscles to overrelax and lead to apneas.

In other individuals, apneas occur every night; these are the people who are most likely to be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Due to excessive body weight, anatomical defects, or other issues, these people may experience nightly apneas that have a major impact on the quality of their sleep. Such ongoing problems can drastically affect these individuals’ health, daily productivity, and overall wellness.

Frequency of Nightly Apneas

The severity of OSA differs from person to person. The more frequently the apneas occur during the night, the more serious the condition is. Doctors use a scale called the AHI index to determine just how severe a patient’s OSA is. The AHI index takes into account the number of both apneas and hypopneas (periods of a partial loss of breathing) that occur each hour.

• Normal, healthy sleepers have an AHI of 5 or below
• Mild OSA is characterized by an AHI of 5 – 14
• Moderate OSA is characterized by an AHI of 15 – 19
• Severe OSA is characterized by an AHI of 30 or above.

The AHI works a little differently for children. Any child with an AHI of 1.5 or higher is considered to be an abnormal sleeper.

Do You Need Help to Fight OSA?

If you struggle with daily fatigue, nighttime restlessness, and frequent, loud snoring, it is possible that you have obstructive sleep apnea. To find out for sure, consult a sleep medicine expert who can arrange for you to undergo a sleep study, which will determine your AHI score and provide you with an official diagnosis for your condition. Then, you can begin treatment. Many patients find that something as simple as an oral appliance, which repositions the jaw to allow for easier breathing at night, is the ideal solution for OSA.

Are frequent nighttime breathing problems robbing you of the rest you need to function at your best? A sleep test, followed by OSA treatment, may be the key to your reclaiming the high-quality shuteye that you deserve.

Meet Dr. Mogell
Dr. Kenneth Mogell, a board-certified specialist in sleep medicine with over 10 years of experience treating sleep breathing disorders is the practice’s founder and primary practitioner. The practice has three South Florida locations: Melbourne, Vero Beach, and Boca Raton. To learn more about Florida Dental Sleep Disorders and Dr. Kenneth Mogell, contact our team at 844-294-7559. We accept Medicare, Tricare and most medical insurance!