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What Causes Sleep Apnea?
If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you're probably searching for a cause. While this condition has been the focus of many studies, medical researchers are not in full agreement about the causes of sleep apnea. Understanding the types of sleep apnea and several underlying conditions may give you a clearer picture of what causes this disorder.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Since there are several types of sleep apnea, causes are many. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent type and is caused by an obstruction to the breathing. The pathways that allow air to flow in the nose or throat either close or collapse, thereby diminishing the normal breathing pattern.
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is rare and seems to be a result of a miscommunication between the brain and the central nervous system that instructs the body to breathe. A stroke or a disease or injury to the brain most likely causes this type of sleep apnea. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the first and second types and the prescribed treatment must take both conditions into account. Merely opening the airways is not usually sufficient to help a person with this condition. The connections between the brain and the nervous system must also be improved through drug therapy.
Common Underlying Conditions
While doctors don't agree on a definite cause of sleep apnea, there appears to be several common conditions that are present in patients with this disorder. Physically, if a person's neck or throat is narrow, it will create a smaller passage for air to flow. This in itself may not be a causative factor, but if other conditions are present, it would contribute to this medical problem. Large tonsils, adenoids, an enlarged tongue or even a receding chin are often seen in people with sleep apnea.
One of the main issues believed to be a cause of sleep apnea is obesity. Smoking or drinking alcohol may contribute to the onset of this disease, either by damaging the tissues of the throat or by providing a sedative effect. A family history has been determined to be a cause of sleep apnea, possibly resulting from inherited malformations of the neck or throat tissues. Many people who have sleep apnea also have high blood pressure or heart irregularities, but it's not clearly decided if these conditions cause the apnea or result from it.
It may be years before doctors identify all the causes of sleep apnea, but if you are diagnosed with it, prompt and accurate treatment is recommended to avoid other health issues associated with this dangerous breathing problem.
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