Understanding the 3 Types of Sleep Apnea

Many people have heard the words “sleep apnea” these days. Without treatment, this disorder keeps you from feeling your best during the day. Worse yet, it can cause serious health complications and even shorten your lifespan.

So, the more people that learn about this issue, the more likely they are to get the treatment they need to protect their health — and life.

Dr. Nehal Mehta and Dr. Prashant Patel treat a variety of breathing and sleep disorders at Respacare in Bridgewater, New Jersey. One thing that often surprises their patients is learning there are different types of sleep apnea, not a single condition.

In this blog, our team explains the three types of sleep apnea and when to get treatment.

The dangers of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person to stop breathing while sleeping. There are different reasons why this occurs — hence, the three different types of sleep apnea.

1. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

This type makes up the vast majority of sleep apnea cases. It’s due to muscles in the throat relaxing and soft tissue blocking airflow into the lungs.

1. Central sleep apnea

When you have this form of sleep apnea, your breathing gets disrupted because of neurological reasons. Basically, there isn’t an obstruction that blocks your airway. Instead, your brain and nervous system don’t tell your body to breathe consistently.

1. Complex sleep apnea syndrome

You can also have a combination of OSA and central sleep apnea — or complex sleep apnea syndrome. In some cases, experts can diagnose this type of sleep apnea during the initial sleep study. However, it can also become apparent based on a person’s response to OSA treatment.

Why sleep apnea type matters

As mentioned above, sleep apnea can cause serious complications. That means it’s essential to see an expert like the team at Respacare if you think you have this disorder.

However, it’s also important to understand the different types of this condition because they can cause varying symptoms. They can also require a different course of treatment.

Treating OSA

For instance, OSA often causes symptoms that indicate a blockage in the throat, like snoring, choking, or gasping for breath.

To address this issue, you need to correct the obstruction. In some cases, the sleeper can simply change positions, lose weight, or quit smoking.

In addition, medical treatments can provide relief, especially oral appliances, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, and even surgery.

Treating central sleep apnea

Since central sleep apnea involves neurological issues, there’s often no snoring. It can also occur because of underlying issues.

People living with this type of sleep apnea often benefit from treatment focused on the underlying cause and CPAP machines with specialized positive airway pressure modes.

Treating complex sleep apnea syndrome 

As you might suspect, people with complex sleep apnea syndrome often display symptoms similar to OSA. However, they typically respond best to a combination of sleep apnea interventions.

When to get help

At the end of the day, you don’t have to worry about determining your type of sleep apnea — that’s what the Respacare team is for. Instead, learn to spot the signs of sleep apnea so you can get treatment.

Common signs of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping for air
• Someone telling you you stop breathing
• Waking with a dry mouth or headache
• Problems staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive sleepiness during the day
• Irritability

Sleep apnea can also make it difficult to pay attention during the day and increase your risk of accidents.

Don’t ignore these symptoms. Contact Respacare to learn more about sleep disorder testing and treatment at our practice in Bridgewater, New Jersey, today.