Sleep Apnea in Calgary

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

In addition to interrupted breathing while sleeping, which you likely won’t know is happening unless someone tells you, other symptoms of sleep apnea may include:

• Gasping for air while sleeping
• Snoring loudly
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime drowsiness (hypersomnia)
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Irritability
• Trouble focusing

Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

There are several factors that increase your risk of developing either obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea risk factors include:

• Having a narrow airway. Genetic factors may have given you a narrow airway, or your tonsils or adenoids may be enlarged, narrowing your airway. This risk factor is most often found in children.
• Your neck circumference. Individuals with thick necks are more likely to have narrow airways.
• Excessive weight. Being overweight or obese increases your chances of developing sleep apnea because the excess weight around your neck may obstruct your upper airway, disrupting your breathing.
• Smoking. Smoking is responsible for a wide variety of health problems and can affect your ability to breathe properly. It also increases your risk of developing sleep apnea. Smokers are nearly three times more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea than individuals who have never smoked. Smoking can cause your upper airway to retain fluid, causing inflammation and restricting the amount of oxygen you take in with each breath.
• Nasal congestion. Individuals who have trouble breathing through their noses, either due to the shape of their nose or allergies, are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.
• Your age. Older adults are more likely to develop sleep apnea than younger adults.
• Your sex. Men are more likely to develop sleep apnea than women, though a woman’s chances increase if she is overweight or has reached menopause.
• Your family history. Having a family history of sleep apnea may increase your chances of developing the condition yourself.

Central sleep apnea risk factors include:

• Your age. Middle-aged and elderly individuals are more likely to develop central sleep apnea than children or young adults.
• Your sex. Central sleep apnea occurs more frequently in men than in women.
• Having a stroke. Having a stroke increases your chances of developing central sleep apnea.
• Having a heart disorder. Congestive heart failure increases your chances of developing central sleep apnea.
• Using narcotic pain medication. Opioid medications, especially long-acting medications such as methadone, increases your chances of developing central sleep apnea.