Sleep Apnea Complications and Risk factors

Sleep apnea can occur irrespective of the age or sex.



It can happen in men as well as women and in children as well as old people. But the listed risk factors below increases your risk of getting sleep apnea.

Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea

1. Obesity – Excess weight especially fat deposits on upper airway may cause obstruction while breathing.
   
   
   
   However lean personality may also suffer from this disorder and it is not a compulsion to be overweight to have sleep apnea.
2. Hypertension – Sleep apnea is common in people with high blood pressure.
3. Neck circumference – A thick neck circumference (greater than 17 inches) is associated with obstructive sleep apnea as it may tend to narrow the airway passage.
4. Blocked or narrowed airway – Adenoids or tonsils may block the airway when they become large or you might have a naturally narrow air passage.
5. Sex – Males are twice as likely to get sleep apnea as females are.
   
   
   
   However the risk of getting sleep apnea in women increases after menopause or if they are overweight.
6. Age – Individuals older than 65 yrs are two to three times likely to have sleep apnea.
   
   
   
   
7. Family history – If other members in the family have sleep apnea, your chances are also higher.
8. Smoking, use of alcohol, tranquilizers or sedatives.

Risk factors for central sleep apnea

1. Heart disorders – This is the most common cause, people with congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation are at higher risk.
2. Sex – Males are twice as likely to get sleep apnea as females are.
3. Neuromuscular disorders, stroke or brain tumor – These conditions may impair brains ability to transmit signal to the muscles that control breathing.
4. High altitude.
   
   
   
   

Complications of sleep apnea

If appropriate care and treatment is not taken for sleep apnea then it can cause complications like –

1. Cardiovascular problems – High blood pressure is a dominating factor for heart diseases and stroke, in case of sleep apnea the oxygen levels in the blood drops which causes high blood pressure and thus strains the cardiovascular system.
2. Daytime fatigue – The brief awakening in the night disturbs the normal sound sleep which then leads to drowsiness, fatigue or irritability during the daytime.
   
   
   
   
3. Medications or surgery complications – It is important to let your specialist know that you have sleep apnea before a surgery or before receiving any medications or general anesthesia.
4. Loud snoring – It tends to disturb the normal sleeping pattern of your bed partner and might affect relationship with them as well.

Some people may also have complains like morning headaches, mood swings, memory problems, feel of depression, nocturia (frequent urination at night) or impotence. To avoid any such complication it is very important to treat sleep apnea.