Understanding the 3 Types of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a very common disorder. In fact, it afflicts millions of people! Despite how common it is, though, many people have very little knowledge about it. They might not even be aware of the fact that there are actually three different types of sleep apnea! What are these types, and what are the differences between them? This blog post shares some fascinating information.

Sleep Apnea: An Overview

“Sleep apnea” is a condition wherein a person stops breathing or experiences restricted breathing multiple times throughout the night. These episodes, known as apneas, can occur dozens or even hundreds of times in a single sleep session.

All types of sleep apnea can cause drowsiness and are associated with an increased risk of numerous health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and more.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when tissues in the upper airway, such as the tongue or soft palate, get positioned in a way that causes them to interfere with the free flow of air. They can fully or partially restrict a person’s ability to breathe.

Loud, frequent snoring is a common symptom of OSA. It is also worth mentioning that, while anyone can develop OSA, it occurs most frequently in older individuals and people who carry extra fatty tissue around their abdomen and/or neck.

Fortunately, OSA is usually easy to treat. Many people find success with a CPAP machine or a convenient oral appliance, both of which aim to keep the airway open to allow for easier breathing.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

In CSA, apneas occur when the brain fails to send proper breathing signals to the rest of the body. It can have various causes. For example, it occurs more frequently at high altitudes. It is also more common among individuals who take opioids as well as those who have various types of brain damage. In some cases, the cause of CSA remains unknown. Snoring is less common in CSA than in OSA.

Diagnosing and treating CSA can be challenging. It may involve addressing the root cause of the problem, using a machine that stimulates breathing, or other measures.

Combined Sleep Apnea

Combined sleep apnea is also known as mixed sleep apnea. As its name suggests, it is a combination of OSA and CSA. Treatment must be tailored to the unique circumstances that are causing both types of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can come in different forms! If you believe you have a version of this disorder, talk to your care team to learn about your next steps.

Meet the Practice

At Florida Dental Sleep Disorders, Drs. Kenneth Mogell and Yitta Garden are proud to provide oral appliance therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea. They may also be able to help patients with other types of sleep apnea to figure out how to receive appropriate care. To learn more about how they and our team may be able to serve you, contact any of our locations or call our Melbourne office at 321-265-3462.