You know about the causes and negative symptoms of sleep apnea. But what are the direct physical causes of this sleep disorder? What happens when you experience an apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when soft tissue in the throat blocks off the airway, partially or completely preventing oxygen from entering the body. For this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at what causes this obstruction, what physical characteristics make you more likely to develop sleep apnea, and how the closing of the throat can be prevented.

The Physical Causes of Sleep Apnea

By far the most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is, for lack of a better word, a very mechanical problem. What causes the obstruction that cuts off the breath during sleep?

What blocks the throat during sleep apnea?

The back of the throat—also known as the upper airway—contains a lot of soft tissue. This includes the tongue, soft palate, tonsils, and adenoids.

While awake, the muscles in your throat are completely activated, which keeps this tissue in place. When you fall asleep, these muscles relax, which can cause the tissue to sag into your throat. When the airway is partially blocked, this tissue vibrates, causing snoring. When the airway is entirely blocked, an apnea occurs. For an animated visual of what happens during an apnea, check out this video.

Certain behaviors can exacerbate the relaxation of this tissue. For instance, if you sleep on your back, gravity pulls the tongue downward, blocking your throat. Alcohol causes throat muscles to relax, which can make sleep apnea more severe. Smoking can also cause throat tissue to swell, narrowing the airway.

Physical Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

Certain physical features of the throat and face can make it more likely for you to develop the sleep disorder. Here are some risk factors of sleep apnea:

• A large neck. This is one of the most important physical indicators, often used by sleep doctors to assess the likelihood that someone has sleep apnea. People with a neck circumference greater than 17 inches for men and 15 inches for women are considered at heightened risk for OSA.
• Being overweight. This is another very significant risk factor; about half of people with OSA are overweight. When fat accumulates around the upper airway, it can change the shape of the airway or add to the extra tissue.
• A small jaw. People with small jaws have tongues that are seated farther back in the mouth, increasing the probability of it falling into the airway.
• Large tonsils or adenoids. This is particularly problematic in children. If the tonsils are large enough, they can actually obstruct the throat and cause sleep apnea.

How to prevent an apnea

CPAP therapy, the most common and effective treatment for sleep apnea, pushes pressurized air through the throat. This prevents throat tissue from collapsing into the airway. This means of treatment is nearly 100% effective.

Some surgical methods attempt to cure sleep apnea by physically removing the obstructive tissue at the back of the throat, including parts of the tongue, upper mouth, or tonsils. Certain dental devices work by moving the lower jaw forward to pull soft tissue off the back of the throat. However, neither of these methods are as effective as CPAP.

If you match some of the risk factors above and are concerned about sleep apnea, or if you think you might have this sleep disorder, it is important to have a sleep study to test for this serious condition. Be sure to talk to your doctor or contact us.

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Photo credit: Resmed